Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, is widely used in genetic studies because they express a number of mutations such as eye, wing, and body mutations.

• Great for studying sex-linked, recessive, and dominant mutations
• Easy to maintain, with short generation times
• Excellent live food for large insects such as praying mantises, as well as small reptiles, and amphibians

Drosophila demonstrates complete metamorphosis with egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages in its life cycle.