fruit flies grrrr

roach dude

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 5, 2005
Messages
401
:mad: :mad: :mad: i ve a infestation if fruit flies with my roaches stick insects and snails!! how can i stop this anyboady got any clues!!??!!
 

Ecilious

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 9, 2005
Messages
149
Just got over this problem myself.

Clean out all your cages and put in fresh new substrate (quite a pain with cockroaches, I know) and tape or glue some fine netting (old net curtains or a cut up pair of ladies tights) over ALL of the air holes in the cages to stop flies getting back in.

The main reason for getting these is a build up of waste in the cages, most likely the cockroachs, particularly if you have no substrate in the bottom. You have to clean them out a lot more when you have no floor covering in my experience. Could also be the snails : make sure you take out any rinds and the tough bits of fruits which the snails will leave behind.
 

fantasticp

Arachnocompulsive
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 18, 2004
Messages
512
As far as the roaches: try to let the cage dry out, and remove old food. Try to feed the stick insects and snails something that is leafy and not mushy. The fruit flies don't like leafy veggies. (At least not fresh ones.)
 

Dom

Arachnolord
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 20, 2005
Messages
665
Are you feeding your roaches fruit? I've found that some types of fruit esp. in the summer time will generate fruit flies on their own (larval stage already in the fruit).
 

NiGHTS

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 30, 2005
Messages
194
The only way I've found to get rid of them is to replace the substrate (or remove the substrate, bake it for a good half hour @ 350 degrees, and reuse). I've tried letting the substrate dry out, and that hasn't worked. If you dig through the dirt, you'll find little wormlike fly larvae (sort of looks like millipede babies, but translucent)...this is the real problem.

Even if you remove leftover waste from the cages, the flies can still be attraced by the high humidity and wet soil, as it makes an ideal spawning ground. So go with the netting method suggested by Ecilious, after replacing the substrate.
 

Bloodletting

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 29, 2003
Messages
358
Oranges are worst. I hang fly paper above the tank. It works very well. So does the flat paper on the inside of the tank. as long as your roaches aren't climbers.

The farm stores sell a bell like catcher, filled with fly phermone. stinks but catches all the flies and fruit flies.

Scott
 

Dark Raptor

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 18, 2004
Messages
1,062
Fruit flies aren't worse. I hate Sciaridae flies (maybe you've got them in your terrariums?). They can develope everywhere where is highier humidity and any kind of organic matter (even in flowerpots).

You can compare species:
Drosophila sp.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/imaging_station/gal_media/drosophila/fly_wildtype/fly_wildtype_320.jpg

Sciaridae sp.
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/biodiversity/photos/diptera/sciaridae.jpg

You can wipe them out by drying substrate and removing all uneaten food from the tanks.
 

spydrhunter1

Arachnolord
Old Timer
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Messages
641
Are you sure they are fruit flies? They could be phorids. Cleaning up the cages will help to eliminate both types of flies.
 

arachnidsrck

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 9, 2005
Messages
31
i have heard that you can put a glass of wine by the infested area and the flies will drown themselves in it. hope this helps
 
Top