Complete Story
08/09/2026
Fruit Flies - August 2026
Pest of the Month - Sponsored by NISUS
Dark-eyed Fruit Fly (Drosophila repleta)
The dark-eyed fruit fly, also known as a dark-eyed vinegar fly, are small, typically about 1/8-inch as an adult. As one might guess, their most distinguishing feature is their dark eyes which range in color from deep red to dark brown. Their tan or light brown bodies often have dark speckles on top and are banded. They sport clear wings and bristled antennae.
Dark-eyed fruit flies prefer decaying organic matter like rotting vegetables and are likely to breed and harbor near garbage receptacles, under appliances with spilled food or liquids, by compost piles/containers, in floor drain with organic build up, and other similar places. They are not particularly active flyers, tending instead to congregate together resting on surfaces.
- repleta live anywhere from 30-50 days, but they can reach maturity in as little as 7 days in warm, humid conditions with abundant resources. Females typically lay their eggs on rotting food or organic waste, producing 300-400 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs hatch in 24-30 hours in warm environments. Their rapid life cycle means that infestation can set in rapidly, particularly if breeding areas are not treated appropriately. Nibor-D Insecticide Foam + IGR pairs a borate active ingredient (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) with an insect growth regulator (pyriproxyfen) in a ready-to-use foam. Featuring two actuators, you can skip the mixing and move straight to treating with a broad spray pattern or the drain hose attachment. This application flexibility allows you to treat in the dark, smelly places these pests thrive.
