Hobbies And Interests
Fake Fruit
Humans heavily rely on their sight to learn about their environment, and are notable among animals for their good depth perception and their wide range of color perception. Most animals and insects, however, rely on other senses. Put one banana and one fake banana in a container of fruit flies. Observe the fruit flies and see which object attracts them. How do you think fruit flies find their food? Document your findings with photographs.
Food Preference
Like humans, many animals have preferred foods. Discover what foods fruit flies prefer by putting slices of three or four different types of fruit in a container of fruit flies. Observe which fruit, if any, the flies seem particularly attracted to. You can vary the experiment, as well. For instance, if you discover that the flies prefer banana, try other yellow fruits to see if it is color that attracts the flies.
Fruit Ripeness
Fruit flies are attracted to ripe fruits and vegetables for food and places to lay eggs. The ripeness of a fruit changes many aspects of the fruit, such as its texture and nutritional content. Take a slice from three bananas, one green, one ripe and one overripe or even rotting. Put the slices in a container with fruit flies and observe which slice attracts the flies. Why do you think the flies are attracted to that particular slice? For instance, is rotting fruit easier for the fly to smell?
Hatching Time
The typical time it takes for a fly to hatch and mature into an adult is ten days, but this can vary by temperature. Separate fruit fly eggs into at least two groups and put them in identical containers. In one, increase or decrease the temperature with a heat lamp or by placing it in a drafty area. Observe the flies at least once per day. Compare the growth rate between the two groups to see how temperature affects hatching and development time.