science education resource

Fruit Fly

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Drosophila melanogaster
Fruit Fly

Range

They are found all over the world.

Habitat

They live anywhere there is rotting fruits and vegetables.

Body Traits

They are very small, only1/8 inch long. Their body is usually a light yellow to tan color with a darker bottom half (abdomen). They have a feathery bristle on their antenna and red eyes.

Habits

They fly around garbage cans or kitchen fruits and vegetables. They are weak flyers.

Diet

They eat rotting fruits and vegetables.

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School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs in rotten food, animal feces or garbage and hatching maggots start eating!

Fruit Fly

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Family: Drosophilidae
Subfamily: Drosophilinae
Genus: Drosophila
Species: D. melanogaster

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