Trypetidae
- noun
- Archaic
- Scientists used to classify many fruit flies under the Trypetidae family.
Examples
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Modern taxonomy places species once included in Trypetidae within Tephritidae.
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The Trypetidae family includes various species of fruit flies.
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The Trypetidae were studied extensively for their role as agricultural pests.
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Did you know that Trypetidae are often confused with other fly families?
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Many species that were once classified as Trypetidae are now placed in Tephritidae.
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Researchers are examining the ecological impact of Trypetidae in fruit crops.
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Identifying the features of Trypetidae can help differentiate them from other fruit fly families.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A group of small fruit flies that often damage fruit and vegetable crops
Small flies with patterned wings whose young eat and damage fruit and plant leaves
Compounds
- Specialized
Small flies with patterned wings whose young eat and damage fruit and plant leaves
Surface Forms
Morphology
Trypetidae = Trypeta (opaque) = Trypeta + idae
Formed regularly from the genus name plus the scientific family suffix '-idae', but this morphological rule is specialized and not obvious to average learners.
Etymology
Trypetidae comes from an old Greek root trypet- meaning 'borer' or 'to bore'. It refers to fruit flies that often make holes in fruit or leaves, so the name highlights their habit of tunnelling into plants.