Photo by Drees. The antennae are characteristic in having a feathery bristle.
Adults lay cylindrical eggs near suitable larval habitat.
Tiny maggots hatch from eggs and develop though several molts before leaving the food source in search of a drier location to pupate. Development from egg to adult can be completed in 8 to 10 days. Adults can be attracted to fruit or fermenting liquid especially if placed outdoors in a compost pile or near garbage. They can be allowed to breed on the food source. D. melanogaster is also available through scientific supply catalogs.