fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (such as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Examples of fruit fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In the future, the team hopes to explore why some bugs seem impervious to artificial light sources—such as oleander hawk-moths and some species of fruit flies—while others can’t seem to escape it. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024 Millions of sterile fruit flies are being dropped on L.A. to fight an infestation Nov. 3, 2023 The quarantine order is only the latest scare involving invasive fruit flies. Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2024 Additionally, 10 fruit flies were seen in the dry storage area. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 9 Feb. 2024 In July, the invasive Tau fruit fly prompted a quarantine in Los Angeles County. Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2024 Even a species as minuscule as the fruit fly represents a substantial neurological challenge. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Jan. 2024 Common fruit flies can catch a ride anywhere from field to harvest to grocery store, getting trapped by processors or freezing in refrigerated delivery trucks and ending up in your home. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024 Traps designed for fruit flies may not be effective against drain flies. Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2023 During a sabbatical at Cambridge University, Truman and Riddiford took a break from working on moths and started to look at Drosophila, more commonly known as fruit flies. Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fruit fly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fruit fly was circa 1753

Dictionary Entries Near fruit fly

Cite this Entry

“Fruit fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fruit%20fly. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fruit fly

noun
: any of various small two-winged flies whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Medical Definition

fruit fly

noun
: any of various small dipteran flies (as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

More from Merriam-Webster on fruit fly

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