PEST NAME :  FRUIT FLIES (Drosophila spp)

SIZE, SHAPE AND COLOUR :  2mm long. 3 to 4mm wingspan. Fat bulbous body, greyish yellow. Large often orange eyes. Simple wing venation. Feathery antennae. Cross striped abdomen.

BIOLOGY :  700 to 800 eggs laid at 20 to 25 per day in the foodstuff for the hatching larvae. Larvae have 3 moults and they migrate to pupate. The egg to adult stage can be a short as 8 days at 30oc.

PREFERRED FOODS :  Varies but is usually sour mil, rotting and fermenting fruit e.g. grapes and bananas, fruit juices, tomatoes and dried fruits.

HABITAT :   Vinegar factories, breweries, dried fruit washing plants, tomato processors, fruit drink producers and warehouses where spillage has occurred.


For more information about different types of flies see below: