Carnivorous fruit fly offers evolutionary insights

A carnivorous fruit fly last seen in the wild in 1981 could help scientists understand how species adapt to environmental changes, reports Swedish broadcaster SVT.

Researchers at Lund University have mapped nearly the entire genome of Drosophila enhydrobia, a relative of the common fruit fly, using a museum specimen. The fly’s larvae live in fast-flowing African streams and feed on other insects.

By extracting DNA without damaging the specimen, the team reconstructed about 96% of its genome. This allows them to trace genetic changes linked to its shift from a fruit-eating diet to predation, including adaptations in digestion and immune defense.

Biologist Marcus Stensmyr, who led the study, called the method a “time machine” for examining genetic material from before modern agriculture.

The approach could also reveal how pesticides and farming practices affect genetic evolution in other species, such as butterflies and bumblebees. It also preserves rare specimens, turning old museum collections into resources for studying both evolution and future environmental challenges.