Scientific names, how are these obtained? By identification of specimens. How are identifications maded? By comparing the characteristics of specimens of unknown identity against vouchers of known identity. If the characteristics match, then an identification is made. Knowing what characteristics to use requires understanding of classifications. Such knowledge can be obtained for well known groups (birds and flowers, for example) from field guides, but for less well known groups, such as insects, experts are required. Experts, like Keith Harris (CABI Entomology, London) and George Steyskal (USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Washington), can identify flies as they know all the things that have been written about flies since Linneaus established our current classification system.

The Fruit Fly Expert System provides additional information to help confirm identification. For each species, there is a picture of to illustration the key characters of the whole fly. For example, the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata).

Development of the Fruit Fly Expert System is an example of the critically important research being done at the Smithsonian by USDA scientists of the Systematic Entomology Lab to improve the quality of the world's food.