Animal Profiles
Insects

Fruit Fly

Drosophila melanogaster

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The common fruit fly is a small, widely transported insect associated with fermenting fruit. Its short life cycle also makes it an important research animal.

Drosophila melanogaster, the representative described in this account.

Drosophila melanogaster, the representative described in this account.

Sanjay Acharya · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Drosophila melanogaster occurs widely outside Antarctica, especially where moisture and decaying plant foods are available.
Habitat
Towns and cities
Diet
Detritivore
Food
Adults gather around ripening or decomposing fruit and other fermenting plant material.

Classification

Common name
Fruit Fly
Browse group
Insects
Scientific name or taxon
Drosophila melanogaster
Taxon rank
species
Order
Diptera
Family
Drosophilidae
Genus
Drosophila
Source classification
Insecta

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It has one pair of wings.
  • Larvae develop near decaying food.
  • Human transport has spread it widely.

Habitat and range

Drosophila melanogaster occurs widely outside Antarctica, especially where moisture and decaying plant foods are available. Human transport has extended its range far beyond the Old World tropics.

Appearance and adaptations

A tan body carries one pair of wings and conspicuous compound eyes. Its development includes a legless larval stage, followed by a pupa and a winged adult.

Diet and behaviour

Adults gather around ripening or decomposing fruit and other fermenting plant material. Eggs laid near food give the developing larvae access to a suitable feeding environment.

Sources

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