How Long Do Fruit Flies Live Without Food?

A fruit fly larva can survive for up to a year without food. They lay eggs on fermenting fruit and decaying sweet organic material. The fertilized eggs hatch into small white larvae which feed off the food. These larvae feed off sugar and carbohydrates in a damp environment. A weak larva will not reach its maximum life span.

You can make a homemade fruit fly trap with ingredients found in your kitchen. An old beer bottle or fruit juice bottle works well. You can wrap it in plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band. You can then poke small holes in the top of the bottle. This will entice the fruit flies to enter the bottle and eventually die.

Fruit flies are a common household pest. They are active throughout the year but are especially prolific in late summer. They have a tiny body and red eyes. Though fruit flies are not harmful on their own, they can indicate the presence of unsanitary conditions in a household.

In an ideal environment, fruit flies can survive for up to 7 days without food. However, if food is unavailable, they will succumb. If the temperature is too hot, they will die after 4 to 5 days.