5 replies to this topic

[soulsynapse]

Fruit fly cultures are prone to mite infestations. You can use a product called bugblade to kill the mites, but bugblade will kill ants too. If you have mites, to prevent the infestation you can rotate the stock every few weeks.. but mites that fall into an outworld can still hatch and kill a colony.

 

Is there a known solution for this kind of thing? Any help appreciated.

[123LordOfAnts123]

The mites that exist in fruit fly cultures are harmless towards ants, and technically the flies too (except in rare cases) if only they didn't exhibit population explosions. Mites that might fall Into the outworld may only present themselves as problems if hygiene is an issue in the first place, and only through stress inducing means of crawling over ants in large numbers; not through parasitic tendencies.

Bugblade is merely diatomaceous earth marketed in overpriced amounts. DE is used under where cultures are kept and as a barrier. It kills purely through mechanical damage, and if used properly ants should never come into contact with it in the first place.

To prevent spread of mites between cultures, both DE and mite paper is effective, though the latter is easier to use. The most important step that could prevent most of the trouble is to source mite free cultures in the first place, and then use proper sanitation and quarantine methods thereafter.

Edited by 123LordOfAnts123, June 13 2017 - 1:39 PM.

[nurbs]

Freeze them if you're worried about mites or contaminates.

 

I cut a hole on the top of the culture that is taped when not in use. Once there are a few hundred flies, they are poured via the hole into a smaller container using a funnel. They are frozen and then thawed.

 

A small spoon is used to drop a few into test tubes. The rest is sprinkled into the outworld via a hole cut into the container.

 

[soulsynapse]

Freeze them if you're worried about mites or contaminates.

 

I cut a hole on the top of the culture that is taped when not in use. Once there are a few hundred flies, they are poured via the hole into a smaller container using a funnel. They are frozen and then thawed.

 

A small spoon is used to drop a few into test tubes. The rest is sprinkled into the outworld via a hole cut into the container.

 

 

Awesome, your ants don't refuse frozen flies?

[nurbs]

Freeze them if you're worried about mites or contaminates.
 
I cut a hole on the top of the culture that is taped when not in use. Once there are a few hundred flies, they are poured via the hole into a smaller container using a funnel. They are frozen and then thawed.
 
A small spoon is used to drop a few into test tubes. The rest is sprinkled into the outworld via a hole cut into the container.
 

 
Awesome, your ants don't refuse frozen flies?

If it's still frozen, no. Once its thawed I think the scent returns and they accept it.

If you can feed them live, it's preferable. I usually sprinkle lives ones for the ones not in test tubes before freezing the rest. Also fun to watch them spaz out over them.

[anttics]

I throw flies into boiling water. it kills everything. unfortunately my ants do not touch defrost insects. I do not care if the culture has mites or mold. the way I do it. I put flies on a micro mesh plate. then submerge it for a few seconds, and job done.