Bug FAQAfrican Fig Fly
Zaprionus indianus · Order: Diptera · Family: Drosophilidae
The African fig fly now occurs in many tropical areas worldwide, as well as in southern Europe and the United States. Although first described from India, scientists think the species originated in central Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The species has spread widely across tropical regions, southern Europe and the U.S..
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is now common in tropical habitats around the world and also in southern Europe and the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The fly likely originated in central Africa despite the holotype being described from India.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 23 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in North America; introduced in Canada; introduced in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Same family (Drosophilidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaprionus_indianus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.