Adults are 2.5–4.0 mm, brownish yellow or brownish-black in colour, and have red eyes. 

Eggs are laid in moist fermenting foods or other moist organic material. Eggs are translucent, milky white and glossy. 

Larvae are 0.07 mm in the first instar and they grow up to 6.0 mm in the last instar. They are milky-white and cylindrical with black mouthparts. They develop inside the ripening/fermenting fruit or organic material the eggs were laid in. 

Pupae are 2.0–3.0 mm long, reddish brown, and cylindrical with two small projections at the end. 

Life Cycle

1–2 weeks depending on climatic conditions.