Fruit Flies
Physical Characteristics
- Size: About 1/8″ long. Many are small enough to be able to penetrate regular mesh screening.
- Color: Tan to brownish yellow or brownish-black. Eyes usually red.
- Body: Small and oval in shape with short, bristly antennae, red eyes, no teeth or stinger
Fruit flies, another common type found in homes throughout America, are considered small flies. They hover in small circles searching for food, primarily fermenting or sugary foods like fruits, vegetables, and sweet drinks. They are especially attracted to rotting or expired food. They can also be found in garbage bins, refrigerators, compost piles, discarded dishes and bottles, and spilled liquid. Any place where yeast, sugar, and fermentation are present, fruit flies may find a feeding and breeding site. Similar to house flies, they can transmit a wide variety of diseases and are often responsible for food contamination.
Adult fruit flies can live 25-30 days and are known for their rapid reproduction, which can become an infestation in a short period of time. Females lay about 500 eggs at a time. They will lay their eggs in just about any place they can find, including dirty dishcloths, mop heads, fruit bowls, and buckets of stagnant water.