Trypetidae

insect family

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Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

The Trypetidae are a family of acalyptrate muscoid flies, commonly known as fruit flies. These insects possess a piercing ovipositor and often have banded or spotted wings. Many species within the Trypetidae family are significant pests, notably affecting various fruits, such as the Mediterranean fruit fly.1

The Trypetidae belong to the order Diptera, which encompasses all true flies. This order is one of the largest among insects and includes over 160,000 species. Flies play diverse ecological roles, acting as decomposers, pollinators, predators, and parasites, and are a crucial part of global food chains.234

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fruit fly
Insects of the family Trypetidae are often referred to as large fruit flies, and those of the Drosophilidae as small fruit flies or vinegar flies. (See vinegar fly.)
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Insects of the family Trypetidae are often referred to as large fruit flies, and those of the Drosophilidae as small fruit flies or vinegar flies. (See vinegar fly.)
Read More