The desired locations of oviposition for D. montana coincide with their breeding sites. Observed substrates for oviposition include phloem and sap flux yeast growths on birch trees, as well as decomposing stalks of the plant Nuphar lutea, the yellow water lily. The virilis group of Drosophila, to which D. montana belongs, is generally known to oviposit in sap. The species has overlapping preferences for oviposition with D. littoralis. However, D. montana mate slightly earlier, and their larvae are more prevalent in drier substrates.
