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[[Image:Female_Mexican_fruit_fly.jpg|thumb|200px|Female Mexican fruit fly]]The name '''fruit flies''' can apply to any [[fly]] of the family ''Tephritidae''. More commonly, however, it refers to the common fruit fly, ''Drosophila melanogaster''. As well as being a common pest, the fruit fly is known for its extensive use in experiments and studies of [[genetics]].

[[Image:Female_Mexican_fruit_fly.jpg|thumb|200px|Female Mexican fruit fly]]The name '''fruit flies''' can apply to any [[fly]] of the family ''Tephritidae''. More commonly, however, it refers to the common fruit fly, ''Drosophila melanogaster''. As well as being a common pest, the fruit fly is known for its extensive use in experiments and studies of [[genetics]].

[[Fruits|Fruit]] flies tend to be drawn to any sources of rotten or fermenting [[food]]. They reproduce by laying eggs (up to 500) among organic waste. The larvae, [[maggot|maggots]], will then hatch and feed. The lifecycle from [[egg]] to adult can be completed in about a week.

[[Fruits|Fruit]] flies tend to be drawn to any sources of rotten or fermenting [[food]]. They reproduce by laying eggs (up to 500) among organic waste. The larvae, [[maggot]]s, will then hatch and feed. The lifecycle from [[egg]] to adult can be completed in about a week.

[[Sarah Palin]] drew [[liberal]] criticism in the 2008 presidential election for pointing to fruit fly research in Paris, France as an example of poor use of public funds.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/27/sarahpalin-genetics-fruit-flies</ref> Unfortunately for the liberals who defended the project based on ''D. melanogaster'' genetic progress the research Palin was highlighting had nothing to do with genetics; the study in question was focused on the ecology of the Olive Fruit Fly.

[[Sarah Palin]] drew [[liberal]] criticism in the 2008 presidential election for pointing to fruit fly research in Paris, France as an example of poor use of public funds.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/27/sarahpalin-genetics-fruit-flies</ref> Unfortunately for the liberals who defended the project based on ''D. melanogaster'' genetic progress the research Palin was highlighting had nothing to do with genetics; the study in question was focused on the ecology of the Olive Fruit Fly.