Tephritidae are the true fruit flies, which include the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), the walnut husk fly, Rhagoletis completa Cresson, the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrephaludens (Loew), and the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh). Fruit fly infestation causes major damage to many economically-important food crops and is of major concern in agriculture worldwide.

Tephritidae are controlled primarily by repeated applications of organophosphate pesticides. Health concerns, environmental pollution, and costs associated with pesticide use press researchers to find new methods for control. One approach to finding new control methods involves investigating the associations that exist between tephritids and microorganisms. Currently, bacterial odors are being used to lure these pest tephritids into traps. These flies are specifically attracted to odors from certain bacteria found to inhabit their gut. Data suggest that these bacteria are likely involved in important aspects of fruit fly nutrition and reproduction.