Drosophilidae facts for kids
The Drosophilidae are a big family of flies found all over the world. They are often called fruit flies. There are over 4,000 different kinds (species) of these flies in 75 groups (genera).
The best-known species of fruit fly is Drosophila melanogaster. Scientists use this fly a lot for studies on genetics, how living things grow, how their bodies work (physiology), and how they behave.
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What are Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies are small insects that belong to the Drosophilidae family. You might have seen them flying around ripe fruit in your kitchen! They are found almost everywhere on Earth. This family has many different types of flies, more than 4,000 species in total.
The Famous Fruit Fly: Drosophila melanogaster
The most well-known fruit fly is called Drosophila melanogaster. Scientists love to study this tiny fly. It helps them learn about many important things.
Why Scientists Study D. melanogaster
Scientists use D. melanogaster to understand genetics. This is how traits are passed from parents to offspring. They also study how living things grow and develop. Fruit flies help us learn about how bodies work and even how animals behave.
Most studies of D. melanogaster happen in labs. But some scientists, like Theodosius Dobzhansky, studied fruit flies in nature. From the 1930s to the 1970s, Dobzhansky and his team studied another type of fruit fly, Drosophila pseudoobscura, in its natural home.
Fruit Fly Lifespan and Aging
When a fruit fly hatches, most of its cells stop dividing. This means fruit flies have a very short life. They also show signs of ageing quite quickly.
The temperature affects how long fruit flies live. They tend to live longer when it is colder. Scientists can even change some of their genes to make these insects live longer. This helps us understand more about aging in general.
Different Kinds of Fruit Flies
There is another family of flies called the Tephritidae. These flies are not closely related to Drosophilidae. But they are also sometimes called "small fruit flies."
The Drosophilidae family is divided into two main groups, or subfamilies. These are the Drosophilinae and the Steganinae.
Images for kids
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Close-up of fruit fly proboscis
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Front view
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Drosophilidae compound eye
See also
In Spanish: Drosofílidos para niños
