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

Students can study sex-linked, recessive, and dominant mutations. Drosophila also make an excellent live food for mantises, small reptiles and amphibians. Drosophila demonstrates complete metamorphosis with egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages in its life cycle.

The pupae will usually appear within ten days of the ship date. During very cold weather, adult flies may die but eggs and larvae usually survive. Allow cultures to come to room temperature before checking under low magnification for eggs and live larvae.