Sources differ on the maximum lifespan of adult medflies, it may be six months or a year, though they agree that cool conditions with abundant food and water are necessary for the flies to survive this long. Most live much shorter lives, and in most populations at least half are dead in less than 60 days. On a normal diet of sugar and protein in laboratory settings, females tend to outlive males by approximately 1.5 days.

Typical lifespan

Status: wild: 20 to 60 days.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 35 days.

Typical lifespan

Status: captivity: 30 to 65 days.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 45 days.