Window Fly vs Fruit Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Window Fly Fruit Fly
Scientific Name Scenopinus fenestralis Drosophila melanogaster
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Scenopinidae Drosophilidae
Size 5-7 mm 2-4 mm
Habitat Indoors Woodlands
Diet Predators Fruit Feeders
Regions Worldwide Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Window Fly

A small shiny black fly often found on windowsills inside buildings. Its larvae are beneficial predators of carpet beetle and clothes moth larvae.

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Did You Know?

Despite being found indoors, it is actually beneficial because its larvae eat destructive carpet beetles.

Fruit Fly

The most studied organism in genetics. Six Nobel Prizes have been awarded for research on this tiny fly. 75% of human disease genes have recognizable matches in its genome.

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Did You Know?

The fruit fly shares 60% of its DNA with humans and 75% of human disease genes have a match in the fruit fly genome — making it invaluable for medical research.