The fruit fly is a contradictory species. Despite its size, the tiny fruit fry can cause massive damage to crops. But the fruit fly is also a much studied animal with information that can be applied to human disease and health. The term "fruit fly" is a name given to broad range of flies which contain many species.
Fruit Flies: Changing Beer into Vinegar
Fruit flies are drawn to fermenting food as a place to feed and to lay its eggs. This makes rotting fruit a good target, but also makes fruit flies attracted to fermenting beer and wine. Because of the bacteria they carry, fruit flies can get into beer and wine during these early fermentation stages and transform them into vinegar. One benefit of this affinity is that beer and wine can be used as a fruit-fly trap when they are a nuisance in the home.
Fruit Flies: Research Superstars
In a few centuries, the fruit fly has become a go-to insect for genetic research. There are several reasons why fruit flies work so well when scientists want to study genetics and mutations. First, fruit flies are small and cheap, so many of them can be kept in a small space, enabling more experimental subjects. Second, fruit flies only live for 10 days, so changes between birth and death can be seen quickly. Finally, fruit flies have four chromosomes and similar chemical pathways to human, so the results are applicable to human health.
Fruit Flies: Dancing Machines
Male fruit flies use dance to attract mates. For such a tiny insect, the dance can be complex. According to the Orkin.com website, the male first vibrates his legs against the female's head, then both flies face each other and pull their legs from side to side. Before the male is ready to mate, it will spread its wings and twist them to get the female's attention. The result from this meeting could be up to 400 eggs at a time.
Fruit Fllies: Mutants
Genetic experimentation on fruit flies over a short period of time can produce some bizarre results. Fruit fries have chromosomes that are easy to manipulate, so scientists have been able to change the color of their eyes and the length of their wings easily. But other fruit fly mutations have produced fruit flies with curled wings, fruit flies with no eyes and fruit flies with legs growing out of their heads instead of antennae.
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