Wingless Fruit Flies

[sharkweek178]

I say disgusting as if I'm not using my finger to harvest microworms, meticulously sorting mosquito larvae out of gross water, or dealing with grindal worms by hand all the time.

 

[Back in the fold]

That all looks reusable. Maybe not the lid. I notice that the piece of coffee filter I tape over a hole in the lid gets stained. I use excelsior for perching. I have to get over how disgusting the crashed culture is then I can reuse the cups.

Everything is reusable even the lids . I got the ten pack of supplies in 2021 and I have never bought anything more except the culture medium . I am going to try instant mashed potato flakes - not the potato granules - as that is what this is anyway . The only thing they do to the potato flakes is add a fungicide and that may not be absolutely necessary except in the warm summer months if your fish room is hot like mine is . I am still operating with the original flies I got four years ago . Never have lost them or had to buy a new bunch . The only thing I deviate from the instructions on is I let a new culture sit two days instead of one before introducing the flies . This lets me see if the yeast is growing on the medium surface satisfactorily and gives me time to add water if I skimped or more medium if I got it too soupy . There’s a real thing there . Your culture medium can’t be too runny or the flies will drown . There’s only so much they can do to stay walking on the surface . I’ve had it happen a few times but by the time I poured in my flies it was too late . I let it sit and some sunk in like the LaBrea Tar Pits and a few escaped to perpetuate their kind by climbing the mesh perching material , which by the way , is nothing more than plastic fencing for gardening use cut up into six inch squares . Excelsior is messy . The plastic is better .

 

[sharkweek178]

Everything is reusable even the lids . I got the ten pack of supplies in 2021 and I have never bought anything more except the culture medium . I am going to try instant mashed potato flakes - not the potato granules - as that is what this is anyway . The only thing they do to the potato flakes is add a fungicide and that may not be absolutely necessary except in the warm summer months if your fish room is hot like mine is . I am still operating with the original flies I got four years ago . Never have lost them or had to buy a new bunch . The only thing I deviate from the instructions on is I let a new culture sit two days instead of one before introducing the flies . This lets me see if the yeast is growing on the medium surface satisfactorily and gives me time to add water if I skimped or more medium if I got it too soupy . There’s a real thing there . Your culture medium can’t be too runny or the flies will drown . There’s only so much they can do to stay walking on the surface . I’ve had it happen a few times but by the time I poured in my flies it was too late . I let it sit and some sunk in like the LaBrea Tar Pits and a few escaped to perpetuate their kind by climbing the mesh perching material , which by the way , is nothing more than plastic fencing for gardening use cut up into six inch squares . Excelsior is messy . The plastic is better .

I think I have it down with the consistency of the culture. I always have to add more water than the directions say. I'm for just thick enough that it flattens when I tap the cup on the table.
I'm going to look for some of that fencing next time I'm at a hardware store. I have to admit that I was pretty surprised at how messy the excelsior was . Plus being reusable is a bonus.

 

[Back in the fold]

You have the perfect consistency doing it like you’re doing . That’s the same thing I do . You can get the plastic mesh at any yard and garden store . It’s what people use to train vines onto and make small pest barriers . The holes are about 1/2 x 1/2 inch square and you need a piece about 9 x 5 which you fold into an S shape to put in your container . I brush off the dried larvae husks , rinse and go again . Way cleaner than excelsior and doesn’t make a mess in the aquarium .

 

[sharkweek178]

View attachment 347905View attachment 347906You have the perfect consistency doing it like you’re doing . That’s the same thing I do . You can get the plastic mesh at any yard and garden store . It’s what people use to train vines onto and make small pest barriers . The holes are about 1/2 x 1/2 inch square and you need a piece about 9 x 5 which you fold into an S shape to put in your container . I brush off the dried larvae husks , rinse and go again . Way cleaner than excelsior and doesn’t make a mess in the aquarium .

I'm trying this idea. I went to a local hardware store and they didn't have this. At least not in a small enough amount that I was willing to pay for. But there was an arts and craft store right by there. I got some plastic mesh canvas and used that instead.




I did notice something. I don't worry about excelsior getting into my aquarium because I don't pour the flies directly from the container into my fish tank. I pour them into a plastic container that I cover with a lid then into the tank.

 

[Back in the fold]

@sharkweek178 That’s perfect . It’s the same thing . All they need is something to climb on .

 

[sharkweek178]

And I just got to learn the fun science fact that after enough generations of breeding, flightless fruit flies regain the ability to fly.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

And I just got to learn the fun science fact that after enough generations of breeding, flightless fruit flies regain the ability to fly.

I've wondered about that. I've had my culture going for around seven monthe, and no fliers yet...that I know of...

 

[sharkweek178]

I've wondered about that. I've had my culture going for around seven monthe, and no fliers yet...that I know of...

Now that I think of it, another possibility is that some wild fruit flies got into the culture and bred with the flightless ones, giving the offspring flight.