Wingless Fruit Flies

[SimonWoodstock]

Anyone know a good site about, or have any methods of culturing wingless fruit flies without having to buy a pre-made culture? ..or perhaps a place to get a cheap pre-made culture if you have to do it that way.

thanks

[HungryGoldfish]

I've seen a culture (no, actually a small kit) for these flies at a Petco. It cost $10. Probably worth the price if you have kids. :-)

[beviking]

Yeah it would be! I tried (am trying) to culture them (winged flies)in a mason jar figuring that there are enough mutations in fruit flies that eventually I'll get some wingless ones. I've been putting the jar in a clear plastic bag, unscrewing the lid so the winged ones can fly out and into the bag, and hoping to get winged ones. I've only done two collections this way (once per week). Still no wingless flies but man do I have the wife guessing where the winged ones are coming from!!!!

[mogurnda]

Wingless mutants will arise spontaneously with very low frequency.
Try Carolina Biological (https://www3.carolina.com/onlinecatalog/Templates/Default/mainscreen2frame.asp?workspace=home&button=home) instead. Do a search of their life sciences materials for "wingless," and you should find it.

[beviking]

Sure...spoil my fun mogurnda! ;)

[mogurnda]

Didn't mean to be a wet blanket, but fruit fly genetics is one of the few things I really know:rolleyes:

[elgecko]

I bought a culture of wingless fruitflies at Petco for $4.99 several months ago. I have 4 cultures going right now. Once you buy them and you start to raise them yourself, you should never have to buy them again. :)

[HungryGoldfish]

I just spent $5.50 for a culture at Petco today.

*******How do you make the medium for them to live in?*******

[elgecko]

I raise my fruitflies this way.

1 cup mashed potatoes mix, a tablspoon of sugar and a pinch of yeast. Mix the ingredients, add some vinager (helps to prevents mold) and water. Mix. You might have to add more water or potatoe mix if it is too dry or wet. I myself make it on the dry side.
I then use 20 oz. soda bottles for the cultures. I put some small holes at the top of the bottle, thumbtack. I cut the bottle in half. Place some of the mix in the bottom of the bottle. Tear a piece of paper towel and place in bottle. Cut a small reverse "v" into the top piece. This is so you can place the top into the bottom section a little. I then duct tape the pieces together again. Use a funnel to place some fruitflies from another culter into the new culture. 1 cup of mix is good for 3 20 oz. bottles.