Drosophilidae
Guides
Amiota
Amiota is a genus of small flies in the family Drosophilidae, established by Loew in 1862. The genus contains over 100 described species with a cosmopolitan distribution, though it exhibits particularly high diversity in East Asia. Southwestern China has been hypothesized as a possible center of origin and diversification. Some species serve as intermediate hosts and vectors for parasites, including Amiota okadai which transmits the zoonotic nematode Thelazia callipaeda.
Cacoxenus indagator
Houdini fly
Cacoxenus indagator is a kleptoparasitic fruit fly native to central and southern Europe that has been introduced to North America. Females lay eggs in the pollen-filled nest cells of cavity-nesting solitary bees, particularly mason bees (Osmia species). The larvae consume pollen stores intended for host bee larvae, causing host mortality or reduced adult size. The species is commonly called the "Houdini fly" for its ability to escape sealed nest cells. It poses a significant threat to managed solitary bee populations in commercial pollination operations.
Chymomyza
Chymomyza is a genus of vinegar flies in the family Drosophilidae, containing approximately 60 described species distributed across multiple continents. Species within this genus exhibit diverse ecological specializations, including mycophagy (fungal spore feeding) and exploitation of damaged or parasitized fruits and nuts. Some species, such as C. amoena, have demonstrated invasive potential, establishing populations in Europe from North American origins. The genus is notable for complex male-male combat behaviors involving modified forelegs used as visual signals and physical weapons.
Chymomyza aldrichii
Chymomyza aldrichii is a species of vinegar fly in the family Drosophilidae, described by Sturtevant in 1916. It belongs to a genus of small flies commonly associated with decaying plant matter. The species is poorly documented in public sources, with minimal observational records available.
Cladochaeta
Cladochaeta is a genus of small flies in the family Drosophilidae, established by Coquillett in 1900. The genus belongs to the tribe Cladochaetini and is part of the diverse acalyptrate fly radiation. At least one species has been documented from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in association with spittlebug nymphs. The genus is morphologically and ecologically distinct from the homonymous plant genus in Asteraceae.
Cladochaeta sturtevanti
Cladochaeta sturtevanti is a species of fruit fly described by Wheeler & Takada in 1971. It belongs to the family Drosophilidae and is placed in the tribe Cladochaetini. Very little specific information about its biology or ecology has been published. The species is one of relatively few in the genus Cladochaeta, which is characterized by distinctive wing venation patterns.
Drosophila colorata
Drosophila colorata is a species of vinegar fly in the family Drosophilidae, first described by Walker in 1849. It is recorded from the United States. The species is accepted in GBIF and NCBI taxonomic databases, though Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym. Very little specific biological information is available for this species beyond its basic taxonomic placement and geographic occurrence.
Hirtodrosophila
Hirtodrosophila is a genus of fruit flies in the family Drosophilidae, elevated from subgenus status within Drosophila by Grimaldi in 1990. The genus comprises approximately 150 described species divided into ten species groups, with highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Most species are mycophagous, with larvae feeding on fungi, though at least one species has evolved predatory behavior on frog embryos. The genus belongs to the monophyletic Zygothrica genus group of mycophagous drosophilids, though Hirtodrosophila itself is paraphyletic.
Hirtodrosophila alabamensis
Hirtodrosophila alabamensis is a small fly in the family Drosophilidae, originally described from Alabama in 1918. As a member of the genus Hirtodrosophila, it belongs to a group of drosophilid flies often associated with fungal substrates. The species is recognized as valid but remains poorly documented in contemporary literature.
Leucophenga
Leucophenga is a large genus of fruit flies in the family Drosophilidae, comprising at least 240 described species. The genus was established by Mik in 1886 and is classified within the subfamily Steganinae. Species occur across multiple continents with documented diversity in India, northern Europe, and other regions. The genus has received taxonomic attention, including recent species descriptions from northern India.
Leucophenga maculosa
Leucophenga maculosa is a small fruit fly in the family Drosophilidae, originally described as Drosophila maculosa by Coquillett in 1895. The species belongs to the subfamily Steganinae and is part of a genus characterized by distinctive spotted or patterned body markings. It has been documented in multiple regions including the eastern United States, Hawaii, and parts of Brazil.
Microdrosophila
vinegar flies
Microdrosophila is a genus of small flies in the family Drosophilidae, commonly known as vinegar flies. The genus was established by Malloch in 1921 and contains at least 70 described species. These flies are part of a diverse family that includes the well-known model organism Drosophila melanogaster, though Microdrosophila species are generally less studied. The genus appears to have a primarily Palearctic distribution based on available occurrence records.
Phortica
Phortica is a genus of small flies in the family Drosophilidae, subfamily Steganinae. Several species are medically significant as biological vectors of the zoonotic eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda, which causes ocular infections in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. The genus includes at least five species in Europe and the Middle East, with P. variegata and P. okadai being the best-documented vectors. These flies exhibit unusual zoophilic feeding behaviors, including lachryphagy (tear-feeding) in adult males of some species. The genus has gained increasing attention due to climate-driven range shifts and expanding transmission of thelaziosis.
Phortica picta
Phortica picta is a species of vinegar fly in the family Drosophilidae, described by Coquillett in 1904. It belongs to the subfamily Steganinae, a group characterized by distinctive morphological features including elongated mouthparts. The genus Phortica is known for species associated with specific ecological niches, though detailed biological information for P. picta specifically remains limited in published literature.
Pseudiastata
Pseudiastata is a genus of vinegar flies in the family Drosophilidae, containing approximately 11 described species. The genus was established by Coquillett in 1908 and belongs to the subfamily Steganinae. At least one species has been documented as a predator of mealybugs in agricultural settings.
Pseudiastata nebulosa
Pseudiastata nebulosa is a small fruit fly species in the family Drosophilidae, first described by Coquillett in 1908. It belongs to the subfamily Steganinae, a group of drosophilid flies often associated with decaying organic matter and fungal substrates. The species is part of a genus whose members are poorly known biologically, with limited published information on their ecology or behavior.
Rhinoleucophenga
Rhinoleucophenga is a genus of fruit flies in the family Drosophilidae, endemic to the New World with highest diversity in Neotropical open environments, particularly Brazil. The genus comprises at least 26 nominal species, with recent taxonomic work revealing numerous cryptic species and correcting long-standing misidentifications. One species, R. myrmecophaga, exhibits a remarkable predatory larval stage that exploits ant-plant mutualisms by trapping ants at extrafloral nectaries.
Rhinoleucophenga americana
A species of fruit fly in the family Drosophilidae, originally described as Gitona americana by Patterson in 1943. The genus Rhinoleucophenga includes species associated with ant-plant mutualisms, though specific ecological details for R. americana remain undocumented. The species is rarely recorded, with minimal observational data available.
Rhinoleucophenga obesa
Rhinoleucophenga obesa is a species of fruit fly in the family Drosophilidae. Long misidentified in the Neotropics, it is now confirmed as endemic to the Nearctic region with type locality in Texas, USA. Brazilian specimens previously attributed to this species have been reassigned to sibling species R. cantareira and R. gigantea based on morphological and molecular evidence.
Scaptodrosophila
Scaptodrosophila is a large genus of fruit flies in the family Drosophilidae, comprising over 250 described species distributed across multiple continents. The genus exhibits considerable diversity in Australia, where multiple species groups have been studied for their courtship behaviors and host-plant associations. Some species are specialized flower-breeders, with documented cases of host-race formation on Hibiscus species. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision in multiple regions including India and Australia.
Scaptomyza flava
European leaf miner, yellow scaptomyza
Scaptomyza flava is an obligate herbivorous leaf-mining fly in the family Drosophilidae, representing an evolutionary transition to herbivory from the ancestral microbe-feeding habit of drosophilids. Adults are 2.5 mm in length and amber to dark brown in color. The species is native to the Palearctic region with a Holarctic distribution across Europe, Asia, and North America, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia where it is a significant agricultural pest of Brassicales crops. Larvae feed internally on leaf mesophyll, creating serpentine mines that mature into blotches. The species is unusual among Drosophilidae in having lost yeast-associated odorant receptors and evolved specialized detoxification mechanisms for mustard oils. It is being developed as a model organism for studying plant-herbivore interactions.
Scaptomyza graminum
Scaptomyza graminum is a small fly in the family Drosophilidae, originally described from Europe in 1823. The species has been used as a laboratory model for genetic studies, particularly for population genetics and chromosomal research. Wild specimens have been collected from grassy areas, though most biological knowledge derives from laboratory-maintained cultures. Under laboratory conditions at 25°C, development from egg to adult takes approximately 14 days. The species exhibits relatively sluggish behavior compared to Drosophila melanogaster, with reduced flight activity and ease of handling for experimental crosses.
Scaptomyza montana
Scaptomyza montana is a small fly species in the family Drosophilidae, first described by Wheeler in 1949. It belongs to the genus Scaptomyza, a group of flies that includes both herbivorous leaf-mining species and non-herbivorous relatives. The species epithet 'montana' suggests association with mountainous habitats. Like other members of its genus, it likely shares the general body plan of small drosophilid flies with characteristic wing venation and compound eyes. The genus Scaptomyza has gained scientific attention due to its evolutionary transition to herbivory, which occurred approximately 10–15 million years ago, making it a valuable model for studying dietary adaptation in insects.
Scaptomyza pallida
Scaptomyza pallida is a small fruit fly species in the family Drosophilidae. It is found in Europe, with distribution records from the Azores islands including Faial, Flores, Pico, São Jorge, and São Miguel. The genus Scaptomyza includes both herbivorous and non-herbivorous species, though the specific biology of S. pallida remains poorly documented. It belongs to a lineage nested within the Drosophilidae that has undergone evolutionary transitions to herbivory.
Scaptomyza terminalis
Scaptomyza terminalis is a small fly species in the family Drosophilidae, described by Loew in 1863. The genus Scaptomyza includes both microbial-feeding and herbivorous species, with some members having evolved leaf-mining habits. This species is part of a genus that has undergone evolutionary transitions to herbivory, making it relevant for studies of dietary adaptation in insects. Documentation for this specific species is limited, with only two observations recorded in iNaturalist as of the available data.
Stegana
vinegar flies
Stegana is a genus of vinegar flies (Drosophilidae) comprising at least 140 described species. The genus is characterized by high morphological conservatism, particularly in the subgenus Orthostegana, where evolutionary stasis has produced numerous cryptic species that are difficult to distinguish by external morphology alone. Species delimitation often requires integrative approaches combining molecular data (mitochondrial COI and ND2 genes) with detailed morphological analysis.
Stegana antigua
Stegana antigua is a species of small fly in the family Drosophilidae, subfamily Steganinae. It was described by Wheeler in 1960. The genus Stegana is part of the tribe Steganini within the subfamily Steganinae, a group of flies commonly known as vinegar flies or fruit flies, though distinct from the more widely known Drosophila melanogaster species group. Members of this subfamily are typically associated with decaying plant material and fungal substrates.
Stegana vittata
Stegana vittata is a species of fruit fly in the family Drosophilidae, placed in the subfamily Steganinae. The genus Stegana comprises small flies typically associated with decaying organic matter and fungal substrates. Beyond its taxonomic placement, specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Steganinae
Steganinae is the smaller of two subfamilies in the fruit fly family Drosophilidae, established by Hendel in 1917. The subfamily is monophyletic but lacks a single diagnostic morphological character distinguishing it from the larger Drosophilinae. Members display diverse feeding behaviors, with some species exhibiting zoophilic habits unusual for drosophilid flies. The subfamily includes approximately 350 described species across multiple tribes and subtribes, though phylogenetic relationships remain partially unresolved.
Zaprionus
Fig Flies
Zaprionus is a genus of fruit flies in the family Drosophilidae, distinguished by conspicuous white longitudinal stripes across the head and thorax. The genus is divided into two subgenera based on stripe number: Zaprionus (even number of stripes) and Anaprionus (odd number of stripes). Species occur primarily in Africa and southern Asia, with several species showing invasive expansion. The genus is taxonomically nested within the paraphyletic genus Drosophila.
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African fig fly
Zaprionus indianus is a highly invasive drosophilid fruit fly native to West and Central Africa that has established populations across tropical and temperate regions worldwide. It is distinguished by striking longitudinal black and white stripes on the head and thorax. Unlike many invasive drosophilids, it cannot penetrate intact fruit skin and instead exploits pre-existing wounds or oviposition holes made by other species, particularly spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). It is a significant pest of figs, grapes, and other soft fruits, and exhibits strong interspecific competitive ability.