Fruit Fly (Vinegar Fly)

Natural Habitat

Commonly found near ripening or decaying fruit, vegetables, and fermenting organic matter in kitchens, gardens, and food processing facilities.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae and adults feed on sugary and fermenting organic substances, particularly decaying fruit, fungi, and the yeast growing on these surfaces.

Behavior Patterns

Attracted to the smell of fermentation; they have extremely rapid life cycles, often developing from egg to adult in 8–10 days under warm conditions. They are most active during the day.

Risks & Benefits

Generally considered a nuisance pest in homes. While they do not bite, they can cross-contaminate food with bacteria and pathogens. Beneficially, they are one of the most important model organisms in genetic and biological research.

Identified on: 1/5/2026