where do fruit flies lay eggs

Fruit flies lay their eggs primarily on the surface of rotting or fermenting fruits and vegetables. They prefer overripe or decaying produce where the conditions allow the eggs to hatch and larvae to thrive. Besides fruits and vegetables, fruit flies can also lay eggs in other moist, organic materials such as sludge found in drains, garbage disposals, trash cans, and even the seams of appliances. The larvae feed on the yeast and fungi growing in these materials, turning their food into a semi-liquid mess before pupating in drier areas. Each female can lay up to 500 eggs, often depositing them inside or on the surface of the fermenting material. This behavior allows fruit flies to reproduce rapidly, especially in kitchens, restaurants, and food processing establishments where such materials are abundant.