TYT.LThome / Insecta · vabzdžiai / Diptera · dvisparniai / Tephritidae · margasparnės

Tephritidae · margasparnės

  • peacock flies, fruit flies
  • Fruchtfliegen, Bohrfliegen
  • raibspārnmušu dzimta, raibspārnmušas
  • nasionnicowate

The larvae of almost all Tephritidae are phytophagous. Females deposit eggs in living, healthy plant tissue using their telescopic ovipositors. Here, the larvae find their food upon emerging. The larvae develop in leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, fruits, and roots of the host plant, depending on the species. Some species are gall-forming. The adults sometimes have a very short lifespan. Some live for less than a week. Some species are monophagous (feeding on only one plant species) others are polyphagous (feeding on several, usually related plant species).

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 arthropods such as wasps or jumping spiders because it helps the fruit flies avoid predation, though the flies lack stingers.

Adult tephritid fruit flies are often found on the host plant and feeding on pollen, nectar, rotting plant debris, or honeydew. Tephritidae is one of two fly families referred to as "fruit flies". Various species of fruit fly cause damage to fruit and other plant crops.