Drosophila hydei, commonly known as the fruit fly, is approximately 3 mm long and is typically found near unripe or rotten and fermenting fruit. His body is segmented into 3 different sections and covered with an exoskeleton. It has six legs, two small antennae, a pair of wings (which extend slightly over the back), and large red compound eyes. Complex, compound eyes allow D.hydei to see in many directions, allowing it to sense food or potential dangers (Miller 2000). Its eyes are sensitive to light intensity, so when shadows approach, signaling danger, the fly flees or takes flight (Demerec 1950; Miller 2000). Its body is gray-brown in color and shaped like an oblong oval, larger at the front and narrower towards the back. Small hairs cover the entire body and allow the fly to sense movement in the air. These hairs alert them to disturbances such as approaching predators (Demerec 1950; Miller 2000). The pupae from which Drosophila hydei is born are orange-brown in color and are slightly larger than the adult fly. Males and females differ in the stripes on the backs of the males, as well as in size. Males have wider stripes and tend to be smaller, while the stripes on a female are narrower and will be larger in size (Miller 2000). To thrive, a food source of yeast and sugar must be present, as is the case with fermenting fruit. The mouth of D. hydei is specifically shaped to absorb liquid food sources (Miller 2000). The range of Drosophila hydei is broad and exists in many different habitats, from temperate to humid forests (Bateman 1972). Because very cold temperatures have been found to have negative effects on insect survival, Drosophila hydei is not found near the center of the paper, infested with wasp parasites and other harmful microorganisms. Ants also pose a threat to D. hydei, often carrying away the larvae, destroying their ability to survive (Bateman 1972). The predatory relationship between ants and D. hydei larvae has a negative effect on the fly, as they are used as a food source, while the ant benefits, as it gets a food source. Because Drosophila hydei is prey to so many species, its removal would be harmful to the many species that prey on it. Overall, Drosophila hydei is a unique species, capable of residing in a wide range of habitats, temperatures and light conditions. Much research has been conducted to determine the effect of abiotic factors on these organisms. Differences in temperature and light in particular have been shown to influence the behavior, growth and reproduction of species.