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Tephritidae
Paracantha cultaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Diptera Suborder: Brachycera Section: Schizophora Subsection: Acalyptratae Superfamily: Tephritoidea Family: Tephritidae
Diversity
500 genera, about 5,000 species
Genera
Bactrocera Ceratitis Paracantha Rhagoletis Tephritis Urophora Euaresta hundreds more

Tephritidae is a family of insects that includes fruit flies. It does not include the biological model organism of the genus Drosophila, which is often called a common fruit fly. There are nearly 5,000 described species of tephritid fruit fly, categorized in almost 500 genera. Description, recategorization, and genetic analysis are constantly changing the taxonomy of the fruit fly family.

Fruit flies are of major importance in agriculture. Some have negative effects, some positive. Various species of fruit fly cause damage to fruit and other plant crops. The genus Bactrocera is of worldwide notoriety for its destructive impact on agriculture. The olive fruit fly (B. oleae), for example, feeds on only one plant: the wild or commercially cultivated olive. It has the capacity to ruin 100% of an olive crop by damaging the fruit. On the other hand, some fruit flies are used as agents of biological control, thereby reducing the populations of pest species. Several species of the fruit fly genus Urophora have been shown to be effective agents against rangeland-destroying noxious weeds such as starthistles and knapweeds.

Most fruit flies lay their eggs in plant tissues, where the larvae find their first food upon emerging. The adults usually have a very short lifespan. Some live for less than a week.

Fruit flies use an open circulatory system as their cardiovascular system.

Their behavioral ecology is of great interest to biologists. Some fruit flies have extensive mating rituals or territorial displays. Many are brightly colored and visually showy. Some fruit flies show Batesian mimicry, bearing the colors and markings of dangerous insects such as wasps because it helps the fruit flies to avoid predators; the flies, of course, lack stingers.

The Tephritidae are grouped into several subfamilies:^[1]

• Blepharoneurinae (5 genera, 34 species)
• Dacinae (41 genera, 1066 species)
• Phytalmiinae (957 genera, 331 species)
• Tachiniscinae genera, 1859 species)
• Trypetinae (118 genera, 1012 species)

Three genera with 32 species are not included in any subfamily (incertae sedis).

1. ^ The Diptera Site: Tephritidae Phylogeny

• Fruit Fly Euaresta aequalis Large format diagnostic photos including courtship ritual
• Diptera.info images
• Tephritidae Information
• Pest Fruit Flies of the World