Drosophilinae facts for kids

The fly

The Drosophilinae are the largest group of flies within the family called Drosophilidae. You might know some of them as "fruit flies" because they often hang around ripe fruits! The Drosophilidae family has another smaller group called the Steganinae. These tiny insects are found all over the world and are very important for science.

What Are Drosophilinae?

Drosophilinae are small, winged insects. They are a type of fly, often called "fruit flies" or "vinegar flies." Most of them are only a few millimeters long. They usually have reddish eyes and a yellowish-brown body. These flies are very common in homes, especially near fruit bowls or places where food is fermenting.

Where Do They Live?

Drosophilinae flies live in many different places around the world. They are found in tropical areas, temperate zones, and even some cooler regions. They love places where there is fermenting fruit, sap from trees, or other decaying plant material. This is because they feed on the yeast and bacteria that grow on these things. You might see them in your kitchen, in gardens, or in forests.

Why Are They Important to Science?

One type of Drosophilinae, called Drosophila melanogaster, is super famous in science. Scientists have studied this tiny fruit fly for over a hundred years! It's like a superhero of genetics. Here's why:

• Easy to Keep: They are small and don't need much space.
• Fast Life Cycle: They grow from egg to adult in about two weeks. This means scientists can study many generations quickly.
• Simple Genetics: They have only four pairs of chromosomes, which are easy to study.
• Similar Genes: Many of their genes are similar to human genes. This helps scientists understand human diseases and how bodies develop.

Thanks to fruit flies, scientists have learned a lot about how genes work. They have also learned about how living things develop and how diseases happen.

Their Life Cycle

Like many insects, Drosophilinae go through different stages in their life. This is called metamorphosis.

• Egg: The female fly lays tiny eggs, often on rotting fruit.
• Larva: The eggs hatch into small, worm-like creatures called larvae (or maggots). These larvae eat a lot and grow quickly.
• Pupa: After growing, the larva turns into a pupa. During this stage, the fly changes inside a hard case.
• Adult: Finally, an adult fly comes out of the pupa. The adult fly will then mate and lay eggs, starting the cycle again.

This whole process can take as little as 10 to 14 days, depending on the temperature.

See also

• Drosophilidae
• Steganinae
• In Spanish: Drosofilinos para niños