File:Drosophila melanogaster 01.jpg

Fly - Drosophila Melanogaster

This illustration depicts a dorsal view of the “Common fruit" fly, or “Vinegar” fly, Drosophila melanogaster, a member of the family Drosophilidae.

Under laboratory conditions, this member of the genus Drosophila, is often used as a biologic model in studies focused on genetics, physiology, and evolution. Attracted to decaying and fermenting vegetable matter, this fly is a member of the phylum Arthropoda, and the class, Insecta, adult D. melanogaster have 3 body divisions, a head, which has one pair of antennae, or "feelers", a thorax, which gives rise to three pairs of jointed legs, one pair of flight wings, and a pair of modified wings used to stabilize the fly known as halteres, and an abdomen, which usually has no obvious appendages.

Reference

CDC Public Health Image Library (PHIL) - ID#: 13387 This image is in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions. As a matter of courtesy we request that the content provider be credited and notified in any public or private usage of this image.