Little Flies in Millie Tank?

[Spepper]

Okay, a few days ago I noticed there were some little black flies in my Florida Ivory millipede enclosure. They were about the size of fruit flies. Within another day their population had gone BOOM and they were everywhere in the tank. I took the tank outside and proceeded to start smushing the little flies, and I've done that once a day for two or three days now. But they keep coming back! There were little maggoty worm things under a piece of bark I has gotten from outside and frozen to sterilize it... but apparently freezing didn't work. (The bark is now gone.) I think those were the maggots of these flies. Now the tank is infested. I would take all the millies out and scoop out the top layers of peat moss—but one of them has been missing for weeks now, and I think she must be molting. That presents a difficulty for getting rid of the flies. What should I do? I don't want to risk damaging the buried millipede!

And what are the flies? Does anyone know?

 

[SDCPs]

They're probably fungus gnats. For some reason, the only affective control for me has been to put syran wrap on top of the cage (no air in) and just let them go. The population has just crashed for me, twice, after a week or so. Maybe they ate all the food they could find and then starved? But more likely something...microbe or macrobe killed them?

The best part is they didn't come back I'd give it a try.

 

[Spepper]

Okay, thank you. That sounds easy and it won't make me risk hurting the buried 'pede. One thing though, if the lack of air kills the gnats, won't it be kind of bad for the millipedes too? Or maybe not... since obviously they can stay buried underground for months, where there isn't a whole lot of oxygen.

 

[zonbonzovi]

Some can tolerate freezing so freezing isn't much of a deterrent. Since they don't prey on the millipedes in any way they're more of an eyesore than anything. The conditions of a millipede tank are an invitation for breeding them. If it's severe there are a couple bio controls that will do away with them but it's probably better to remove anything that obviously attracts them along with larvae then take a wait and see approach.

I wonder if SDCP's issue was taken care of unknowingly by Bacillus thuringiensis? Just a far flung guess

 

[Spepper]

Hmmm. Okay. What do fungus gnats eat? Fungus, I'm guessing, by the name. I kind of do need to get rid of them though. My family wouldn't be too happy if I don't figure out a way to get rid of them. :/

 

[zonbonzovi]

A little light reading: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7448.html

Pay special attention to Table 1

 

[Spepper]

Thank you, that helped a lot.

 

[SDCPs]

Some can tolerate freezing so freezing isn't much of a deterrent. Since they don't prey on the millipedes in any way they're more of an eyesore than anything. The conditions of a millipede tank are an invitation for breeding them. If it's severe there are a couple bio controls that will do away with them but it's probably better to remove anything that obviously attracts them along with larvae then take a wait and see approach.

I wonder if SDCP's issue was taken care of unknowingly by Bacillus thuringiensis? Just a far flung guess

Hey, I suspect something like that. Maybe that's why my millipedes were dying too

But they weren't when the fungas gnats were dying...so...?? I also have predatory mites I think, but then there are springtails in my terrariums.

 

[zonbonzovi]

If you have H. miles or whatever they are now, I'd be willing to bet they were devouring the fungus gnat eggs fast enough to make the issue disappear. Don't know why the millipedes were expiring?

 

[Cavedweller]

The fungus gnats in my tank seem to have a boom and bust cycle. I mostly just ignore em till they're gone, but I've heard butterworts are really good for controlling gnats. The only problem is they're kinda hard to find.

 

[SDCPs]

The fungus gnats in my tank seem to have a boom and bust cycle. I mostly just ignore em till they're gone, but I've heard butterworts are really good for controlling gnats. The only problem is they're kinda hard to find.

I grow them. I would use a sundew like d. capensis instead if I was to go that route.

Just saw a few fungus gnats :yikes: On with the plastic wrap!

 

[Kazaam]

I grow them. I would use a sundew like d. capensis instead if I was to go that route.

Just saw a few fungus gnats :yikes: On with the plastic wrap!

I've used both, Pinguiculas take the cake when it comes to efficiency.

Carnivorous bromeliads work pretty good too.

 

[Cavedweller]

I didn't even know there were carnivorous bromeliads!

Do you guys have any recommended suppliers for carnivorous plants?

(Sorry to hijack your thread, Spepper! I hope this is helpful for you too)

 

[Kazaam]

I didn't even know there were carnivorous bromeliads!

Do you guys have any recommended suppliers for carnivorous plants?

(Sorry to hijack your thread, Spepper! I hope this is helpful for you too)

I use dutch suplier so I don't think that's going to be much of a help to you.

 

[SDCPs]

I grow lots of cps...if you had anything to trade...

I would order from the meadowview biologival research station since they are fairly reasonable and the proceeds go to a good cause. Google it!

 

[zonbonzovi]

That's a fascinating resource...thanks! I really like the idea of bio controls in the bug room. Just have to figure out supplementary light sources in the gray NW, esp. during the winter. The Drosera up here are plentiful in the right situation but always out in the open, full sun.