Vinegar-fly
Guides
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.
Chymomyza amoena
A Nearctic drosophilid fruit fly native to eastern United States forests. It has established as an invasive species in Europe since its discovery in former Czechoslovakia in 1975, subsequently spreading to Switzerland, Italy, and German border regions. The species exhibits a distinctive ecological strategy: breeding in damaged or parasitized nuts and fruits rather than relying solely on fermenting substrates. This behavioral constancy for interspecies dependency—exploiting substrates pre-conditioned by other insects—has enabled it to occupy a vacant niche in European ecosystems.
Chymomyza procnemoides
Chymomyza procnemoides is a species of vinegar fly in the family Drosophilidae. The species was described by Wheeler in 1952. It is known from Europe, with confirmed records from Hungary and Norway. It belongs to a genus of small flies often associated with decaying plant matter.
Drosophila
small fruit flies, pomace flies, vinegar flies, wine flies
Drosophila is a genus of small flies in the family Drosophilidae containing over 1,500 described species. The genus exhibits exceptional diversity in appearance, behavior, and breeding habitat, with species ranging from 2–4 mm to larger than a house fly. Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most extensively studied model organisms in genetics and developmental biology. The genus is distinguished from true fruit flies (Tephritidae) by morphology and ecology. Hawaiian Drosophila represent a major adaptive radiation with over 800 species.
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.
Drosophila hydei
Hydei Fruit Fly
Drosophila hydei is a vinegar fly in the family Drosophilidae, notable for possessing the largest recorded sperm of any Drosophila species at approximately 23 mm—over ten times the male body length. It is a member of the hydei species subgroup within the repleta species group. The species is widely used as a feeder insect in the pet trade and has contributed significantly to invertebrate genetics research through the Minos transposon, which has been developed into a versatile genetic tool for gene disruption across diverse arthropod genomes.
Drosophila immigrans
Drosophila immigrans is a vinegar fly in the family Drosophilidae, belonging to the Immigrans-tripunctata radiation within the subgenus Drosophila. It has been used in evolutionary studies to understand virus-host coevolution. The species exhibits seasonal migration patterns in response to temperature extremes and shows altitudinal variation in body melanization correlated with fitness traits. It has a close ecological association with Penicillium moulds on citrus fruit.
Drosophila melanogaster
vinegar fly, lesser fruit fly, pomace fly, banana fly
Drosophila melanogaster is a small dipteran fly native to sub-Saharan Africa that has become cosmopolitan through human association. The species is attracted to rotting fruit and fermenting beverages, earning it the common name 'vinegar fly'—a more accurate descriptor than 'fruit fly,' which properly refers to tephritid pests that damage intact fruit. Since 1901, D. melanogaster has served as the premier model organism for genetic research, contributing to fundamental discoveries in heredity, development, neurobiology, and circadian rhythms. Six Nobel Prizes have been awarded for research using this species. Its utility stems from a rapid 10-day generation time, high fecundity, simple genetics with only four chromosome pairs, and extensive genetic tools.
Drosophila suzukii
spotted wing drosophila, SWD, spotted-winged drosophila, cherry vinegar fly
Drosophila suzukii, commonly called the spotted wing drosophila or SWD, is a small vinegar fly native to Southeast Asia that has become a major invasive pest of soft-skinned fruits in North America, Europe, and other regions. Unlike most Drosophila species that infest rotting fruit, females use their serrated ovipositor to lay eggs in intact, ripening fruit, causing significant economic damage to crops including cherries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and grapes. First described in 1931 and observed in Japan as early as 1916, the species was detected in Hawaii in the 1980s and subsequently invaded continental North America in 2008 and Europe shortly thereafter, spreading rapidly due to its high reproductive potential and polyphagous nature.
Drosophilidae
Vinegar flies, Pomace flies, Fruit flies
Drosophilidae is a diverse, cosmopolitan family of small flies commonly known as vinegar or pomace flies, though often mislabeled 'fruit flies.' The family contains over 4,000 species across 75 genera, with Drosophila melanogaster serving as one of the most important model organisms in genetics, development, and behavioral research. Most species are associated with decomposing organic matter, particularly fermenting fruits and vegetables, though some have evolved specialized relationships with flowers, fungi, or living plant tissue.
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.
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.
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.
Zaprionus indianus
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.