Fruit Fly

Scientific Name: Drosophila melanogaster (common species, but could be other Drosophilidae)

Order & Family: Diptera, Drosophilidae

Size: Typically 2-4 mm (0.08-0.16 inches) in length.

Fruit Fly

Natural Habitat

Commonly found indoors, especially in kitchens or areas with ripe or fermenting fruits and vegetables. Also found outdoors near decaying organic matter.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on yeast, ripe or fermenting fruits and vegetables, and other organic matter. Larvae develop in moist, decaying organic material.

Behavior Patterns

Attracted to fermenting sugars; females lay eggs on ripe or decaying fruit. They have a short life cycle (about 8-10 days from egg to adult) and reproduce rapidly.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Can be a nuisance pest in homes and commercial settings. Can contaminate food with microbes transferred from their bodies. Benefits: Widely used in genetic research (e.g., in studying genetics, development, and behavior).

Identified on: 11/12/2025