Here we briefly explain the most common words and technical terms you come across when reading about fruit flies.
- Breeding site
- A place where fruit flies lay eggs and larvae develop — typically moist, fermenting or rotting organic matter. See the full overview of breeding sources.
- Drain fly
- A small, fuzzy, moth-like fly (also called a moth fly) that breeds in the gunk inside drains. Often mistaken for a fruit fly. See the difference.
- Drosophila
- The scientific genus fruit flies belong to. Drosophila melanogaster is the common species indoors and one of the world's most-used lab animals.
- Fermentation
- The process where yeast breaks sugar down into alcohol and acids. The smell of fermentation is what draws fruit flies in the first place.
- Fungus gnat
- A small, dark, mosquito-like insect that breeds in damp potting soil. Frequently confused with fruit flies. See the comparison.
- Instar
- A stage of larval growth between molts. Fruit fly larvae pass through three instars before pupating.
- Larva
- The worm-like young stage between egg and pupa. Fruit fly larvae (maggots) live in rotting, moist organic material. See the life cycle.
- Metamorphosis
- The transformation from larva through pupa into an adult fly.
- Model organism
- A species studied to understand biology more broadly. The fruit fly is a classic model organism.
- Nematode
- Microscopic roundworms used as biological control against larvae in soil. See natural remedies.
- Pheromone
- A scent chemical insects use to communicate, including to find food and mates.
- Phorid fly
- A tiny humpbacked fly that can look like a fruit fly but runs rather than flies, and often breeds in drains or decaying matter. See the comparison.
- Proboscis
- The mouthpart a fruit fly uses to sponge up liquids from soft, fermenting food. Fruit flies do not have biting mouthparts.
- Pupa
- The resting stage in which the larva transforms into an adult fly, usually a little away from the food source.
- Puparium
- The hard, brown case a pupa develops inside, protected during metamorphosis.
- Vinegar fly
- Another common name for the fruit fly, because the flies are strongly attracted to vinegar and fermentation.