drosophila

From the genus name Drosophila.

• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /dɹoʊˈsɑfələ/, /dɹəˈsɑfələ/

drosophila (plural drosophilas or drosophilae)

1. Any fruit fly of the genus Drosophila
   

   A drosophila
   • 2006, Alan Burdick, Out of Eden: An Odyssey of Ecological Invasion, page 127:

     In contrast, the drosophilas of Hawaii owe their oddity entirely to the whims of natural selection.

   • 2013, Graham G. Stewart, Inge Russell, Advances in Biotechnology: Proceedings of the Fifth International Yeast Symposium Held in London, Canada, July 20-25, 1980, Elsevier, →ISBN, page 494:

     Moreover, the host plant relationships of cactus-specific drosophilae which serve as dispersal agents are well known (Fellows and Heed, 1972; Heed, 1978). The discussion which follows is based on the above studies of yeasts, cacti and drosophilae.