How to dust fruti flys

[Pitbulldoxie]

Help. I can dust crickets that's easy. Now how in the world to I dust the fruit flies there fast and make a run for freedom every chance they get. My flies are in deli type containers adn cnat be dusted in those since it would mess up the culture. I tried shaking them into a plastic freezer bag worked ok but was hard to not loose a bunch. any suggestions??

[John]

I use those 32 fluid ounce (almost 1 liter) containers sold in the US for fruit fly culturing. I take an empty one and put some vitamin or whatever powder in the bottom, then I take a fruit fly culture, tilt over about 120 degrees and open the lid a little while over the mouth of the empty container, then I tap the culture vigorously to get flies to fall into the empty container with the powder. As I do this, occasionally I tap the "empty" to stop the flies crawling out. Once I have enough flies I reseal the culture while it's still over the "empty" and then I put the culture back on the shelf. I then swirl the flies in the "empty" with the powder until they get a nice dusting, then tape the "empty" a little to get flies into each terrarium. I rarely lose a fly during this whole process. It does take a bit of practice if you've never done it before.

One tip is that flies move faster the warmer it is, so it may be easier for you if you cool down the culture a few degrees before getting the flies out.

[Kurt]

I also find that when there is dust on the inside of the receiving container, the flies have a tough time trying to climb up it.

[Pitbulldoxie]

Will have to try that. Currently being its summer and CA its toasty here and the flies have gone nuts I have way to many at the moment. Any one intrested in fruit flies and in the Vallejo CA east bay area willing to pick up with own container Im happy to shre

[kellie]

Will have to try that. Currently being its summer and CA its toasty here and the flies have gone nuts I have way to many at the moment. Any one intrested in fruit flies and in the Vallejo CA east bay area willing to pick up with own container Im happy to shre

whenever i'm ready to feed, i put the culture in the freezer for about 5 seconds and that seems to cal them down enough to do anything with them. i got this advice from a frog care website or a feeder insect site . i don't remember.. good luck!

[John]

whenever i'm ready to feed, i put the culture in the freezer for about 5 seconds and that seems to cal them down enough to do anything with them. i got this advice from a frog care website or a feeder insect site . i don't remember.. good luck!

It certainly can help.