The Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is a small insect in the Drosophilidae family of flies. It is also known as the Vinegar Fly.
The Fruit Fly is yellow-brown with red eyes and black rings on its abdomen. The male has a black patch on its abdomen.
It grows to less than a centimetre (less than a quarter of an inch) in length.
It is common worldwide. It is found in homes and restaurants and wherever fruit is served.
The female lays about 400 eggs into fruit, particularly rotting fruit. The eggs hatch into larvae after 12-15 hours. The larvae grow for about 4 days, feeding on fruit. Then they pupate by making a casing like a cocoon. They live for 4 days in the pupa stage, before emerging as adults. The life cycle from egg to adult is called metamorphosis.
It has a lifespan is 7-50 days.
Location of photograph: United Kingdom
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM