vinegar fly

vinegar fly
any fly of the family Drosophilidae, the larvae of which feed on decaying fruit and vegetation. Also called fruit fly, pomace fly.
[1900-05]

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▪ insect
also called  pomace fly  or  small fruit fly 
 any member of a genus in the small fruit fly family, Drosophilidae (order Diptera). Drosophila species number about 1,500. Some species, particularly D. melanogaster, are used extensively in laboratory and field experiments on genetics and evolution because they are easy to raise and have a short life cycle (less than two weeks at room temperature). More studies have been conducted concerning the genetics of the vinegar fly than have been obtained for any other animal. Drosophila chromosomes, especially the giant chromosomes found in the salivary glands of mature larvae, are used in studies involving heritable characteristics and the basis for gene action.

      The biology of Drosophila in its natural habitats is not well known. The larvae of some species live in rotting or damaged fruits. In these species the adults are strongly attracted to, and feed on, fermenting plant juices. In other species the larvae develop in fungi or in fleshy flowers.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vinegar fly — Vin e*gar fly Any of several fruit flies, esp. {Drosophila ampelopophila}, which breed in imperfectly sealed preserves and in pickles. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • vinegar fly — n DROSOPHILA (2) …   Medical dictionary

  • vinegar fly — noun flies whose larvae feed on pickles and imperfectly sealed preserves • Hypernyms: ↑fruit fly, ↑pomace fly • Member Holonyms: ↑genus Drosophila * * * noun : any of various fruit flies (especially Drosophila mel …   Useful english dictionary

  • vinegar-fly — vinˈegar fly noun A fruit fly • • • Main Entry: ↑vinegar …   Useful english dictionary

  • vinegar fly — vin′egar fly n. ent fruit fly 2) • Etymology: 1900–05 …   From formal English to slang

  • vinegar fly — /ˈvɪnɪgə flaɪ/ (say viniguh fluy) noun any fly of the genus Drosophila, especially D. melanogaster, a fly which is widely used for genetic research because it breeds quickly. {from the presence of its larvae in fermenting liquids as in… …  

  • vinegar fly — noun Etymology: from its breeding in pickles Date: 1901 drosophila …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • fly — noun see eagles don’t catch flies honey catches more flies than vinegar a shut mouth catches no flies verb see time flies a bird never flew on one wing participial adjective see …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • fruit fly — 1. any of numerous small dipterous insects of the family Tephritidae, the larvae of which feed on the fruit of various plants. 2. See vinegar fly. 3. drosophila. [1745 55] * * * Any dipteran species of two families: large fruit flies (Trypetidae) …   Universalium

  • fruit fly — noun any of numerous small insects whose larvae feed on fruits • Syn: ↑pomace fly • Hypernyms: ↑dipterous insect, ↑two winged insects, ↑dipteran, ↑dipteron • Hyponyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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