Common Name: Vinegar fly
Scientific Name: Diptera: Multiple sp
Status: A nuisance pest of homes and restaurants
Damaging Stage: Adult and larval

Biology: Vinegar flies are small (1/10-inch), delicate flies, have red eyes, are yellow-brown in color, and have transverse black rings across their abdomen. Vinegar fly larvae are cream-colored, lack a sclerotized (hard) head capsule and are approximately 1/10 inch in length. They have a tapered head and extended, fleshy tubes on the last body segment.

Females lay their eggs on the surface of rotting fruit, in clogged drains or in dirty garbage cans. The time required to complete one life cycle is mainly dependent on the surrounding air temperatures, and can range from 8-20 days. They complete from 10 to 13 generations per year.

Injury: Adult females lay eggs near moist, fermenting food material such as overripe fruit, rotten vegetables, garbage containers and drains. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed near the surface of the fermenting food masses.

Action Threshold: Vinegar fly populations can be an annoyance to homeowners. In late summer, fruits and vegetables should be stored properly in a refrigerator and thrown away if they become overripe.

Management: Removal of breeding sites (rotting fruit, full garbage bins, food leftovers) is paramount to getting rid of vinegar flies.