Fruit Fly vs St Mark's Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Fruit Fly | St Mark's Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Drosophila melanogaster | Bibio johannis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Drosophilidae | Bibionidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 6-10mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Fruit Fly
The most studied organism in genetics. Six Nobel Prizes have been awarded for research on this tiny fly. 75% of human disease genes have recognizable matches in its genome.
Did You Know?
The fruit fly shares 60% of its DNA with humans and 75% of human disease genes have a match in the fruit fly genome — making it invaluable for medical research.
St Mark's Fly
A small black fly that swarms in May. Males have large heads with huge eyes that almost meet on top.
Did You Know?
Often confused with the larger Bibio marci but emerges slightly later and has entirely dark legs.