. ▁Ext ensive ▁images ▁are ▁found ▁at ▁Fly Base . ▁ ▁L ifecycle ▁and ▁reprodu ction ▁▁ ▁Under ▁optimal ▁growth ▁conditions ▁at ▁, ▁the ▁D . ▁mel an og aster ▁lif es pan ▁is ▁about ▁ 5 0 ▁days ▁from ▁egg ▁to ▁death . ▁The ▁development al ▁period ▁for ▁D . ▁mel an og aster ▁var ies ▁with ▁temperature , ▁as ▁with ▁many ▁e ct oth erm ic ▁species . ▁The ▁short est ▁development ▁time ▁( eg g ▁to ▁adult ), ▁ 7 ▁days , ▁is ▁achieved ▁at ▁. ▁Development ▁times ▁increase ▁at ▁higher ▁temper atures ▁( 1 1 ▁days ▁at ▁) ▁due ▁to ▁heat ▁stress . ▁Under ▁ideal ▁conditions , ▁the ▁development ▁time ▁at ▁ ▁is ▁ 8 . 5 ▁days , ▁at ▁ ▁it ▁takes ▁ 1 9 ▁days ▁and ▁at ▁ ▁it ▁takes ▁over ▁ 5 0 ▁days . ▁Under ▁crow ded ▁conditions , ▁development ▁time ▁increases , ▁while ▁the ▁emer ging ▁f lies ▁are ▁smaller . ▁Fem ales ▁lay ▁some ▁ 4 0 0 ▁eggs ▁( emb ry os ), ▁about ▁five ▁at ▁a ▁time , ▁into ▁ro tt ing ▁fruit ▁or ▁other ▁suitable ▁material ▁such ▁as ▁decay ing ▁m ush rooms ▁and ▁sap ▁flux es . ▁The ▁eggs , ▁which ▁are ▁about ▁ 0 . 5   mm ▁long , ▁h atch ▁after ▁ 1 2 – 1 5 ▁hours ▁( at ▁). ▁The ▁resulting ▁lar va e ▁grow ▁for ▁about ▁ 4 ▁days ▁( at ▁ 2 5   ° C ) ▁while ▁mol ting ▁twice ▁(