Home › How Long Do Fruit Flies Live?
- Adult fruit flies live 40–50 days, but eggs become breeding adults in just 8–10 days.
- One female lays up to 500 eggs — that is why infestations explode so fast.
- Keep traps out 7+ days after the last fly to catch each hatching wave.
The fruit fly life cycle, stage by stage
The common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is about 3 mm long, tan-brown with red eyes. At normal room temperature (~25°C / 77°F) its full life cycle runs:
| Stage | Duration | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Egg | 24–30 hours | Laid on fermenting fruit, drains, bins — any moist decaying matter |
| Larva (maggot) | 4–5 days | Feeds inside the food source |
| Pupa | 4–5 days | Often crawls to a drier nearby surface |
| Adult | 40–50 days | Flying, mating — females start laying eggs within ~2 days |
Egg to breeding adult: roughly 8–10 days. And one female lays up to 500 eggs in her lifetime.
What the life cycle means for getting rid of them
- Traps alone are never enough. You kill today's adults while eggs and pupae you cannot see keep hatching for over a week.
- Keep traps out 7+ days after the last fly. Hidden pupae keep emerging; the trap catches each new wave.
- Remove the breeding source first. No eggs laid means no next generation — the single highest-leverage step.
- Cooler temperatures slow them down but will not end an indoor infestation; a heated home is warm enough year-round.
Do fruit flies die in winter?
Outdoor populations crash in cold weather, but indoor infestations continue all winter because homes stay warm. If anything, winter kitchens — with heating on and windows closed — are ideal breeding conditions. Do not wait for cold weather to solve it.
Know their weakness — now use it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long do fruit flies live? Adults live about 40–50 days in warm conditions. The critical number is the 8–10 day generation time from egg to breeding adult.
How fast do fruit flies reproduce? One female lays up to 500 eggs; eggs hatch in 24–30 hours and new adults lay eggs themselves within about 2 days.
Do fruit flies die in winter? Outdoors, yes. Indoors, no — heated homes keep them breeding all winter.