Flightless fruit flies (Order Diptera) encompass a variety of different species of fly, such as Drosophila melanogaster, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Bactrocera dorsalis, and Drosophila hydei, with genetic mutations that cause them to be flightless.
[2] Flightless fly models have been especially useful for the study of human neuromuscular diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, spinobulbar muscular atrophy, myotonic dystrophy, dystrophinopathies and other inherited neuromuscular diseases.
[3][4] Applications of flightless flies are extremely varied, even being used as test subjects in aeronautical research.
[5] Other applications of flightless flies include using them as convenient feeders for a variety of companion animals, usually small reptiles such as geckos,[6] being highly versatile due to their small size.
[7] Fruit flies are a useful source of protein for captive ant colonies.