Fruit fly (specifically Vinegar fly)
Scientific Name: Drosophila melanogaster
Order & Family: Order: Diptera, Family: Drosophilidae
Size: 3 to 4 mm (1/8th inch) in length
Natural Habitat
Near ripening or fermenting fruits and vegetables, trash cans, and drains
Diet & Feeding
Larvae eat decaying organic matter and yeast; adults feed on the liquids of fermenting fruits
Behavior Patterns
Attracted to the smell of fermentation; high reproductive rate with life cycles completing in about a week
Risks & Benefits
Primarily a nuisance pest; can contaminate food with bacteria and pathogens, but highly valuable in genetic research
Identified on: 1/14/2026