Fruit fly
Scientific Name: Drosophila melanogaster
Order & Family: Order: Diptera, Family: Drosophilidae
Size: 3 to 4 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Typically found in homes, restaurants, grocery stores, and gardens; attracted to fermenting organic matter.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae eat sugary, overripe or rotting vegetation; adults feed on the yeast formed on fermenting fruit and vegetables.
Behavior Patterns
Attracted to light and fermented odors. They reproduce rapidly, laying hundreds of eggs in moist, organic debris. Life cycle from egg to adult takes about 8-10 days.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Can contaminate food with bacteria and pathogens. Benefit: Crucial model organism in biological and genetic research.
Identified on: 3/12/2026