The fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) life cycle from adult to adult consists of four stages:
Egg: The cycle begins when a female fruit fly lays eggs. The eggs are about 0.5mm in length and are deposited on a suitable substrate, such as overripe fruit.
Larva: After 24-48 hours, the eggs hatch into larvae, also known as maggots. The larvae are white and legless, and they feed on the food source where they were hatched. During this stage, the larvae molt twice, and their body size increases by about 200-fold.
Pupa: After approximately 5-6 days of feeding, the larvae stop feeding and molt into pupae. The pupal stage is characterized by metamorphosis, during which the larval tissues are transformed into the adult structures. This stage lasts for about 4-6 days, after which the adult fruit fly emerges.
Adult: The adult fruit fly emerges from the pupal case and is fully developed. The adult fly is sexually mature and capable of mating and reproducing. The entire life cycle from egg to adult takes approximately 8-10 days at room temperature.