10 replies to this topic

[DDD101DDD]

I have a culture of flightless fruit flies, and is wondering if there is a way to get the flies out with no escapes.

http://www.formicult...1644_100576.png

^what the jar looks like

[Shifty189]

fruit flies are poor climbers. The best thing i have found is to tap the jar a few times before opening it. This should cause them all to fall down and allow you to open the jar without any escapes. keeping them from rushing out is another problem, just be quick.

[DDD101DDD]

The problem for me is that there is a metal mesh on the lid, and practically all the flies cling on to that

[Shifty189]

sounds like you should move them to another container. i don't know what to suggest in your case.

[ANTdrew]

I've used a funnel before. Shake out the fruit flies into the funnel and into a test tube that can then be placed in the freezer. You can freeze a bunch this way and thaw them out as needed.

[Acutus]

Just sit it on the table and smack the top they'll fall off. I have the same type. What I do is smack it down so the flies fall right where the jar begins to neck down for the top. Open the lid, dump some in, close the lid. you have to be quick and some escape but not many.

[DDD101DDD]

ok

i think that I'll just do it outside

[spartANTS]

This is how i do for the fruit fly .

Outside is better,not in windy weather.

i use a ziplock bag ,the large one for the freezer .i put the fruit fly jar inside the ziplock bag ,tilt the bag and  open the jar and they should fall at the bottom of the bag .

 

The feeding: i put the bag 10-15 minute to kill them. that for feeding my tetramorium ,lasius and very small colonies 

or i refrigerate them around 10 minute they should be sleeping .those one i use for my formica ,myrmica and camponotus

 

but i always transfer the fruit fly from the bag into a pill box a big one before feeding the ants.

[yfaykya]

I put it in a tub of water. Open the lid. The ones that fall in the water are for din dins..

[Mercutia]

I put it in a tub of water. Open the lid. The ones that fall in the water are for din dins..

Clever!

[SuperFrank]

Take a plastic container and paint the rim with fluon, dump flies in. Pick them out individually with tweezers if you need to feed them live, put the whole container in the freezer for ~5 minutes if you don't need them live. Far and away the easiest method to deal with them. I wouldn't bother with flies as a feeder if fluon wasn't a thing lol.