Fruit Flies

insects · science · tiny creatures

Super useful for science. Scientists have used fruit flies for over 100 years to learn about genetics and how creatures develop. They're so helpful because they're easy to raise and their bodies share many features with other animals.

Attracted to rotting stuff. Fruit flies love fermenting fruit, rotting vegetables, and sugary drinks. You'll find them hanging around kitchens, orchards, and even pubs because they're searching for these yummy treats.

Big families quickly. A single pair of fruit flies can create hundreds of babies in just a few weeks. This makes them perfect for scientists studying how traits pass from parents to children.

Member of fly family. Fruit flies belong to the Drosophilidae family, which includes hundreds of different fly species. They're much smaller than common house flies and have reddish eyes.