Flightless fruit flies (Order Diptera) encompass a variety of different species of fly, such as Drosophila melanogaster , Bactrocera cucurbitae , Bactrocera dorsalis , and Drosophila hydei , with genetic mutations that cause them to be flightless. [1] These genetic mutations may have different results such as the development of muscles that cannot support flight or even result in the lack of wings entirely. [2] Flightless fly models have been especially useful for the study of human neuromuscular diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, spinobulbar muscular atrophy, myotonic dystrophy, dystrophinopathies and other inherited neuromuscular diseases. [3] [4] Applications of flightless flies are extremely varied, even being used as test subjects in aeronautical research. [5]
Other applications of flightless flies include using them as convenient feeders for a variety of companion animals, usually small reptiles such as geckos, [6] being highly versatile due to their small size. [7] Fruit flies are a useful source of protein for captive ant colonies. They can be fed to a colony dead or alive and whilst they are best used for small colonies, fruit flies can also be given to larger ones. [8]