The fruit fly is a species of the common housefly known as Drosophila melanogaster. It is a tiny creature, measuring in at between 1 and 2 millimeters long. Fruit flies have a short lifespan, living only about 30 days. They are easily distinguished from other flies by their red eyes and black bodies with yellow stripes on the thorax, abdomen, legs and wings. Though they are found in many places throughout the world, they prefer warm climates and humidity levels between 70% and 80%.