Fruit fly

Typically found in kitchens near ripening fruits, vegetables, and decaying organic matter.

They feed on fungi, yeasts, and fermented sugars found in overripe or decaying fruit and organic materials.

Drawn to the smell of fermentation, they have a very fast life cycle from egg to adult (about 8-10 days). They are often seen hovering around food or trash.

Generally harmless as they do not bite, but they can mechanically transfer bacteria from waste to food surfaces. They are extensively used as a beneficial model organism in genetic research.