Fruit
flies measure about 1/8" long. Their
head and thorax are a light yellow to
tan color. Fruit flies have abdomens
that are black on top with gray
underneath. They are commonly mistaken
for phorid flies, since both have
similar markings. To differentiate,
fruit flies have red eyes.
People often encounter fruit flies at
the end of the summer in the kitchen or
around garbage storage areas. Flies will
hover around decaying vegetation and
overripe fruit.
All stages of the fruit fly's life cycle
depend on the presence of moist and
decaying organic material. It is vital
to remember this, especially when
control measures are taken to
exterminate their population.
Fruit flies go through complete
metamorphosis. The female will lay
approximately 500 eggs on the surface of
rotting fruit or some other decaying
organic matter. These eggs are
difficult, if not impossible, to see
with the naked eye. Consequently, an
unsuspecting food consumer may end up
with intestinal discomfort or diarrhea
after eating egg-infested matter.
Larvae will emerge approximately 30
hours after the eggs are laid. Then,
they molt twice before entering the
pupal stage. The pupal stage requires
leaving organic matter for a drier area,
such as the side of a garbage container.
The entire time it takes for a fruit fly
to develop is very short. This is why an
infestation may seem to occur all at
once. Under ideal conditions, it takes
8-10 days for a fruit fly to develop
from egg to adult. Under less-than-ideal
conditions, the process can take 10 days
longer.
Fruit flies feed on yeasted organisms
and fungi growing in fruit and vegetable
matter. Through the feeding process,
they turn food into a semi-liquified
mess.
Fruit flies cause the most damage by
being a nuisance. Their presence around
garbage cans or kitchen fruits and
vegetables can be irritating. In
restaurants and cafes, the sight of
fruit flies is repulsive and hurtful to
business.
Also, as mentioned before, fruit fly
larvae living on fruit can cause
intestinal discomfort and diarrhea when
eaten.
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