Apoptosis and autophagic cell death occur during Drosophila development, and 
recent advances in their mechanisms have been made. As in other organisms, 
apoptosis is executed by caspases. In living cells, caspases are kept in check 
through a combination of IAP-binding and proteolytic inhibition. Once a cell 
commits to apoptosis, phagocytes recognize them through the immuno-receptor-like 
proteins Draper and Simu, and initiate corpse engulfment. Drosophila research 
has significantly contributed to the idea that autophagy is required for certain 
forms of cell death, and that caspase function in autophagic cell death depends 
on cell context. Surprisingly, the cell corpse engulfment receptor Draper also 
functions in autophagic cell death. These advances facilitate our understanding 
of the cell death mechanisms in development and disease.