Description

• Drosophilidae is a large family of small flies commonly known as fruit flies or vinegar flies. Species are generally tiny to small, with rounded or compact bodies, relatively large eyes, and clear wings. Many have yellow, brown, grey, or dark body coloration, while some species have distinctive abdominal bands or patterned eyes. The family includes Drosophila, one of the best-known genera of flies and an important group in biological research.

Range

• Drosophilidae occur worldwide in virtually all terrestrial environments where suitable food and breeding substrates are available. They are particularly diverse in tropical and subtropical regions, and numerous species occur throughout Mexico, including the Pacific coastal region. Fruit flies can be encountered in the Zihua area.

Habitat

• Found in forests, woodland, gardens, agricultural areas, orchards, urban environments, and other habitats containing fermenting plant material. Adults are commonly associated with ripe or rotting fruit, flowers, sap flows, fungi, and decaying vegetation. Some species have highly specialised associations with particular plants, fungi, or other substrates.

Diet

• Adults feed primarily on yeasts, microorganisms, fruit juices, nectar, sap, and other fermenting or decomposing organic material. Larvae usually develop in fermenting fruit, decaying vegetation, fungi, sap, flowers, or other organic substrates, where they feed on microorganisms and decomposing material.