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Drosophilidae
Drosophilidae
EOL Text
Holarctic species small to moderately large flies, 1.5-7 mm long, usually with bright red eyes when alive. Body pruinose or shiny; color varying from nearly yellow to brown or brownish-black, often with stripes or spots on thorax and a pattern of bands or spots on abdomen. Wing hyaline or with distinct darkened areas. Sexual dimorphism rare but when present, involving differences in body color or pattern, body size, wing markings, head shape, or secondary sexual traits such as armature of foreleg. (Wheeler 1987, Bächli 1998)
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Rights holder/Author | Irina Brake, The Diptera Site |
Source | http://diptera.myspecies.info/node/9785 |
Drosophilidae (drosophilids) preys on:
Mammalia
Based on studies in:
Costa Rica (Carrion substrate)
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
- L. F. Jiron and V. M. Cartin, 1981. Insect succession in the decomposition of a mammal in Costa Rica. J. New York Entomol. Soc. 89:158-165, from p. 163.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Cynthia Sims Parr, Joel Sachs, SPIRE |
Source | http://spire.umbc.edu/fwc/ |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:12877
Specimens with Sequences:12790
Specimens with Barcodes:11960
Species:984
Species With Barcodes:972
Public Records:4732
Public Species:593
Public BINs:482
Wikispecies has information related to: Drosophilidae |
Drosophilidae is a diverse, cosmopolitan family of flies, which includes fruit flies. Another family of flies called Tephritidae also includes fruit flies. The best known species of Drosophilidae is Drosophila melanogaster, within the genus Drosophila, and this species is used extensively for studies concerning genetics, development, physiology, ecology and behaviour. This fruit fly is mostly composed of post-mitotic cells, has a very short lifespan, and shows gradual aging. As in other species, temperature influences the life history of the animal. Several genes have been identified that can be manipulated to extend the lifespan of these insects.
Contents
Economic significance[edit]
Generally, drosophilids are considered nuisance flies rather than pests, since most species breed in rotting material. Zaprionus indianus Gupta is unusual among Drosophilidae species in being a serious, primary pest of at least one commercial fruit, figs in Brazil.[1] Another species, Drosophila suzukii, infests thin-skinned fruit such as raspberries and cherries and can be a serious agricultural pest.[2]Drosophila repleta larvae inhabit drains and spread bacteria. Fruitflies in general are considered as a common vector in propagating acetic acid bacteria[3] in nature. This often ruins the alcohol fermentation process and can ruin beer or wine by turning it into vinegar.
Identification[edit]
The diagnostic characters for Drosophilidae include the presence of an incomplete subcostal vein, two breaks in the costal vein, and a small anal cell in the wing; convergent postocellar bristles; and usually three frontal bristles on each side of the head, one directed forward and the other two directed rearward. More extensive identification characteristics can be found in "Drosophila: A Guide to Species Identification and Use" by Therese A. Markow and Patrick O'Grady, (Academic Press, 2005) ISBN 0-12-473052-3 or "Drosophila: A Laboratory Handbook" by M. Ashburner, K. Golic, S. Hawley, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2005).
Behavior[edit]
When the flies see female larval endoparasitoid wasps, they switch to laying their eggs in rotting fruit that contains alcohol; which protects them from becoming host to the larvae, as the wasps have a low alcohol tolerance.[4]
Phylogeny[edit]
The family contains more than 4,000 species classified under 75 genera. Recently, a comprehensive phylogenetic classification of the genera based on both molecular and morphological characters has been published.[5]
- Subfamily Drosophilinae Rondani, 1856:
- Tribe Colocasiomyini Okada, 1989:
- Genus Baeodrosophila Wheeler & Takada, 1964
- Genus Balara Bock, 1982
- Genus Chymomyza Czerny, 1903
- Genus Colocasiomyia de Meijere, 1914
- Genus Lissocephala Malloch, 1929
- Genus Neotanygastrella Duda, 1925
- Genus Phorticella Duda, 1924
- Genus Scaptodrosophila Duda, 1923
- Genus Protochymomyza Grimaldi, 1987
- Tribe Drosophilini Okada, 1989:
- Genus Arengomyia Yafuso & Toda, 2008
- Genus Bialba Bock, 1989
- Genus Calodrosophila Wheeler & Takada, 1964
- Genus Celidosoma Hardy, 1965
- Genus Collessia Bock, 1982
- Genus Dettopsomyia Lamb, 1914
- Genus Dichaetophora Duda, 1940
- Genus Dicladochaeta Malloch, 1932
- Genus Drosophila Fallén, 1823
- Genus Hirtodrosophila Duda, 1923
- Genus Hypselothyrea Okada, 1956
- Genus Idiomyia Grimshaw, 1901 (Hawaiian Drosophila)
- Genus Jeannelopsis Séguy, 1938
- Genus Laccodrosophila Duda, 1927
- Genus Liodrosophila Duda, 1922
- Genus Lordiphosa Basden, 1961
- Genus Microdrosophila Malloch, 1921
- Genus Miomyia Grimaldi, 1987
- Genus Mulgravea Bock, 1982
- Genus Mycodrosophila Oldenberg, 1914
- Genus Palmomyia Grimaldi, 2003
- Genus Paraliodrosophila Duda, 1925
- Genus Paramycodrosophila Duda, 1924
- Genus Poliocephala Bock, 1989
- Genus Samoaia Malloch, 1934
- Genus Scaptomyza Hardy, 1849
- Genus Sphaerogastrella Duda, 1922
- Genus Styloptera Duda, 1924
- Genus Tambourella Wheeler, 1957
- Genus Zaprionus Coquillett, 1902
- Genus Zaropunis Tsacas, 1990
- Genus Zapriothrica Wheeler, 1956
- Genus Zygothrica Wiedemann, 1830
- Incertae sedis:
- Genus Marquesia Malloch, 1932
- Tribe Colocasiomyini Okada, 1989:
- Subfamily Steganinae Hendel, 1917:
- Tribe Gitonini Grimaldi, 1990:
- Genus Allopygaea Tsacas, 2000
- Genus Acletoxenus Frauenfeld, 1868
- Genus Amiota Loew, 1862
- Genus Apenthecia Tsacas, 1983
- Genus Apsiphortica Okada, 1971
- Genus Cacoxenus Loew, 1858
- Genus Crincosia Bock, 1982
- Genus Electrophortica Hennig, 1965
- Genus Erima Kertész, 1899
- Genus Gitona Meigen, 1830
- Genus Hyalistata Wheeler, 1960
- Genus Luzonimyia Malloch, 1926
- Genus Mayagueza Wheeler, 1960
- Genus Paracacoxenus Hardy & Wheeler, 1960
- Genus Paraleucophenga Hendel, 1914
- Genus Paraphortica Duda, 1934
- Genus Phortica Schiner, 1862
- Genus Pseudiastata Coquillett, 1901
- Genus Pseudocacoxenus Duda, 1925
- Genus Rhinoleucophenga Hendel, 1917
- Genus Soederbomia Hendel, 1938
- Genus Trachyleucophenga Hendel, 1917
- Tribe Steganini Okada, 1989:
- Genus Eostegana Hendel, 1913
- Genus Leucophenga Mik, 1866
- Genus Pararhinoleucophenga Duda, 1924
- Genus Parastegana Okada, 1971
- Genus Pseudostegana Okada, 1978
- Genus Stegana Meigen, 1830
- Incertae sedis:
- Genus Neorhinoleucophenga Duda, 1924
- Genus Pyrgometopa Kertész, 1901
- Tribe Gitonini Grimaldi, 1990:
Gallery[edit]
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Drosophilidae compound eye
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drosophilidae&oldid=653049700 |
Tephretidae, Drosophilidae (Fruit Flies)
These small, delicate-looking tan or brown flies occasionally suck nectar from flowers, but they are more likely to visit rotting fruit or fermenting sap. They are insignificant pollinators of flowers. The larvae feed on fruit, and can become a nuisance in orchards.
- Hilty, J. Editor. 2015. Insect Visitors of Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. illinoiswildflowers.info, version (09/2015)
See: Abbreviations for Insect Activities, Abbreviations for Scientific Observers, References for behavioral observations
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2015 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/flower_insects/files/flies.htm |