The fruit fly originated in tropical African rainforests and spread to all the major continents by ship transport. It was first reported in New York State in 1875. By 1915, it was reported from California and was common throughout northern America in 1920. The fruit fly is an effective colonizer due to its short life cycle, high offspring production and its ability to fly several miles per day. It is a frequent pest in food-handling establishments.
Fruit flies are commensal, meaning they strongly associate with people and are highly dependent on human activity. They can use a wide variety of food sources if they contain yeasts from fermentation, which is an early stage of decomposition. This is the main difference between fruit flies and other small pest flies that are attracted to late-stage decomposition caused by bacteria and fungi. Yeasts are necessary for larval fruit fly growth and must be present in their breeding medium. As a result, fruit flies are often a problem in bars since alcoholic beverages are made from fermented grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Fruit flies only need a moist film of fermenting material to breed. This often accumulates on the sides of floor drains and in cracks and crevices in floors and underneath equipment. Removal of active breeding sites identified by the presence of larvae will result in a reduction of adult fruit flies within one to two weeks. Borate applications in mop water and to floor drains turn breeding medium into larvicidal bait. Adult fruit flies can be managed faster with bait applications to resting areas, including removeable bait placements in food handling areas.
