Fruit fly trap question

Posts and questions relating to ant diet & nutrition. Let us know what you’re feeding your ants.

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Geffbro
Posts: 24
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2016 9:20 pm
Location: Vancouver

Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 24738Post Geffbro
Sat Jul 15, 2017 1:07 pm

Word on the internet is the most effective automated fruit fly trap is vinegar + dish soap in a container. Has anyone tried feeding fruit flies caught in such a manner to their ants? I ask because i assume dish soap soaked flies might be bad to consume, i guess im wondering if its possible to wash them off with water or should i try a different kind of trap setup.

Anyone know a trap method that accumulates safe fruit flies for ants?

Cartil
Posts: 98
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:13 am
Location: Halifax, NS

Re: Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 29250Post Cartil
Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:19 pm

I saw a guy in another post saying that he just leaves a banana on his balcony for a few days. Never tried myself though.

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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 29252Post Batspiderfish
Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:22 pm

If you pick up the wingless ones at the pet store and cultivate them, you get an infinite and safe supply of them.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.

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idahoantgirl
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 29268Post idahoantgirl
Wed Aug 16, 2017 8:07 pm

Batspiderfish wrote:
Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:22 pm
If you pick up the wingless ones at the pet store and cultivate them, you get an infinite and safe supply of them.
its not infinite, it dies within a few months
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 29275Post Batspiderfish
Wed Aug 16, 2017 8:52 pm

idahoantgirl wrote:
Wed Aug 16, 2017 8:07 pm
Batspiderfish wrote:
Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:22 pm
If you pick up the wingless ones at the pet store and cultivate them, you get an infinite and safe supply of them.
its not infinite, it dies within a few months
If you make a new fly medium and transfer some adults every few weeks, you can keep a fly culture going indefinitely.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.

User avatar
idahoantgirl
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 29278Post idahoantgirl
Wed Aug 16, 2017 9:24 pm

Batspiderfish wrote:
Wed Aug 16, 2017 8:52 pm
idahoantgirl wrote:
Wed Aug 16, 2017 8:07 pm
Batspiderfish wrote:
Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:22 pm
If you pick up the wingless ones at the pet store and cultivate them, you get an infinite and safe supply of them.
its not infinite, it dies within a few months
If you make a new fly medium and transfer some adults every few weeks, you can keep a fly culture going indefinitely.
seriously?! aww if tis true then i just let a colony die :(
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

User avatar
Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 29282Post Batspiderfish
Wed Aug 16, 2017 9:54 pm

Getting another colony is not too expensive. Keep in mind that it can be kinda nasty to clean out the old culture as well. You have to commit to a little bit of grossness, but your ants will basically be set for life.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.

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StormDancer
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:57 am
Location: Southeastern New Mexico

Re: Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 29428Post StormDancer
Fri Aug 18, 2017 7:09 am

I used to cultivate feeders like fruit flies for small reptiles. If you use disposable plastic deli cups or something similar, there is no cleaning required. Much less gross ;)
Learn to dance in the rain, because after there are queens to find!

AntsManhattan
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:32 pm
Location: New York City

Re: Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 29444Post AntsManhattan
Fri Aug 18, 2017 10:47 am

do not feed your ants wild caught animals because they might be carrying pesticides.

JacobSyndeo

Re: Fruit fly trap question

Post: # 29647Post JacobSyndeo
Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:24 am

idahoantgirl wrote:
Wed Aug 16, 2017 9:24 pm
Batspiderfish wrote:
Wed Aug 16, 2017 8:52 pm
idahoantgirl wrote:
Wed Aug 16, 2017 8:07 pm


its not infinite, it dies within a few months
If you make a new fly medium and transfer some adults every few weeks, you can keep a fly culture going indefinitely.
seriously?! aww if tis true then i just let a colony die :(
Yep… same here. I read online that wingless fruit flies are fast and easy, but my colonies are still relatively tiny (20-30 workers each), so I only was able to feed each colony 1 or 2 fruit flies a week… but within a week or two, the fruit fly colony had totally died out. I was expecting it to last a lot longer than that… especially with the stench I had to put up with in my apartment.

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