No dipterans in the bug hobby?

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I managed to keep sustainable mosquito colonies of a few species for several generations until i moved further north and couldn't find any desirable species of interest. Not that i'm recommending pet mosquitoes, but it does show that there is potential for more dipteran species to be cultured.
That aside, i've seen some cool species that might be easier to keep (mainly the bigger calliphorids)
Parasitoids are also pretty cool too, considering experimenting with a few tachinid species next year. I'd definitely give flies a shot at being more than just feeders!

What did they feed on did you have rats or something? Interesting

 

[HexLazerr]

What did they feed on did you have rats or something? Interesting

That likely would've been the smartest solution to try! Unfortunately in my time of breeding mosquitoes i had to sacrifice my arm many times.
I had a small enough population that i was able to sort the adults individually by hand, as tedious as it sounds, it was cool to get to see those individual blood fed females gradually turn full of eggs over a 3 day period.

 

[CladeArthropoda]

That likely would've been the smartest solution to try! Unfortunately in my time of breeding mosquitoes i had to sacrifice my arm many times.
I had a small enough population that i was able to sort the adults individually by hand, as tedious as it sounds, it was cool to get to see those individual blood fed females gradually turn full of eggs over a 3 day period.

What species of mosquitoes did you raise?

 

[HexLazerr]

What species of mosquitoes did you raise?

I tried out most species i could find locally, but for the most part i successfully raised Aedes albopictus, Psorophora ferox, Psorophora ciliata and Toxorhynchites rutilus. The last 2 species get huge and have predatory larvae, so i was able to use excess Aedes larvae as feeders to keep the population from exploding too much. The Psorophora ciliata larvae in particular had absolutely ferocious feeding behavior, actually hunting down and chasing the feeder larvae and then devouring them in seconds. The adults were awesome looking too.
It was super convenient that the eggs of all but Toxorhynchites could be desiccated and stored dry for later use.

Some attempts at other species failed, like Aedes vexans (i personally didn't find them all that interesting, and they don't mate in captivity), Culex pipiens (couldn't figure out how to get them to oviposit) and Anopheles quadrimaculatus (wouldn't mate OR oviposit) i'm pretty sure my setups were off for the last 2 species, but vexans is pretty much known not to copulate in captivity.

 

[CladeArthropoda]

I tried out most species i could find locally, but for the most part i successfully raised Aedes albopictus, Psorophora ferox, Psorophora ciliata and Toxorhynchites rutilus. The last 2 species get huge and have predatory larvae, so i was able to use excess Aedes larvae as feeders to keep the population from exploding too much. The Psorophora ciliata larvae in particular had absolutely ferocious feeding behavior, actually hunting down and chasing the feeder larvae and then devouring them in seconds. The adults were awesome looking too.
It was super convenient that the eggs of all but Toxorhynchites could be desiccated and stored dry for later use.

Some attempts at other species failed, like Aedes vexans (i personally didn't find them all that interesting, and they don't mate in captivity), Culex pipiens (couldn't figure out how to get them to oviposit) and Anopheles quadrimaculatus (wouldn't mate OR oviposit) i'm pretty sure my setups were off for the last 2 species, but vexans is pretty much known not to copulate in captivity.

Was this all for some research project, or you just felt like if?

Also, have you tried Sabethes?

 

[HexLazerr]

Was this all for some research project, or you just felt like if?

Also, have you tried Sabethes?

This was pretty much just for fun, and testing out which species could be raised.

I would have loved to raise Sabethes, i find them absolutely beautiful, but sadly i started this in the temperate US with a limited availability of species. It's a shame, because sabethes apparently breed well in captivity.

 

[CladeArthropoda]

This was pretty much just for fun, and testing out which species could be raised.

I would have loved to raise Sabethes, i find them absolutely beautiful, but sadly i started this in the temperate US with a limited availability of species. It's a shame, because sabethes apparently breed well in captivity.

I hate to be negative here, but aren't some of those species you mentioned earlier known disease vectors, especially ones in the genera Aedes, Culex and Anopheles? Were they released in the wild or all killed or what?

 

[HexLazerr]

I hate to be negative here, but aren't some of those species you mentioned earlier known disease vectors, especially ones in the genera Aedes, Culex and Anopheles? Were they released in the wild or all killed or what?

None were released, all kept individuals (failed or not) eventually died in captivity. When i stopped rearing Aedes, i simply stopped giving blood meals. The Psorophora colonies crashed due to low population density and the fact that the adults were so fragile.
I tried raising Tabanidae, but they simply don't do well in captivity. Currently making efforts to breed Phormia regina (a carrion feeder) and Pollenia rudis (an earthworm parasite).

 

[CladeArthropoda]

None were released, all kept individuals (failed or not) eventually died in captivity. When i stopped rearing Aedes, i simply stopped giving blood meals. The Psorophora colonies crashed due to low population density and the fact that the adults were so fragile.
I tried raising Tabanidae, but they simply don't do well in captivity. Currently making efforts to breed Phormia regina (a carrion feeder) and Pollenia rudis (an earthworm parasite).

I applaud your efforts here, giving a chance to the most despised bugs.

Why don't tabanids do well in captivity?

 

[HexLazerr]

I applaud your efforts here, giving a chance to the most despised bugs.

Why don't tabanids do well in captivity?

The species i tried raising was Tabanus atratus. I caught many adult females, but none of them took a blood meal, and despite being fed honey water and other sugary foods they all died in a matter of days. First weakening gradually, over a matter of hours. Maybe other tabanids would do better, i personally have always found them really cool looking, it'd be a shame if none could be kept!
I haven't tried Chrysops though, so it may be worth a try next year.

Flies seem to be a hit or miss in general, my big robber flies wouldn't take prey, but just like the mosquitoes there must be some species in these families that would do better in captivity. I do wonder if it's possible to raise syrphids though? I've definitely kept adults alive in captivity long term, so it's worth a try. I think this post has inspired me to go out and hunt down some dipterans to try out!

 

[CladeArthropoda]

The species i tried raising was Tabanus atratus. I caught many adult females, but none of them took a blood meal, and despite being fed honey water and other sugary foods they all died in a matter of days. First weakening gradually, over a matter of hours. Maybe other tabanids would do better, i personally have always found them really cool looking, it'd be a shame if none could be kept!
I haven't tried Chrysops though, so it may be worth a try next year.

Flies seem to be a hit or miss in general, my big robber flies wouldn't take prey, but just like the mosquitoes there must be some species in these families that would do better in captivity. I do wonder if it's possible to raise syrphids though? I've definitely kept adults alive in captivity long term, so it's worth a try. I think this post has inspired me to go out and hunt down some dipterans to try out!

Try taking tabanid larvae. They are aquatic and predatory, maybe feeding the larvae would be easier.

Honestly, I do think horseflies would be more popular pets if they didn't bite. Large predatory larvae growing into large nectivorous adults with vibrant colors. What's not to love?

 

[HexLazerr]

Try taking tabanid larvae. They are aquatic and predatory, maybe feeding the larvae would be easier.

Honestly, I do think horseflies would be more popular pets if they didn't bite. Large predatory larvae growing into large nectivorous adults with vibrant colors. What's not to love?

Would love to find larvae, going to have to try checking the local ponds before they freeze over. Hopefully it's not too late.

There is way more variety in the family than usually expected. Some Scaptia species apparently don't bite at all, and they're pretty colorful! In the US, Stonemyia, Pegasomyia, and Esenbeckia are all good potential for strictly nectivorous horseflies that don't bite.

 

[CladeArthropoda]

Would love to find larvae, going to have to try checking the local ponds before they freeze over. Hopefully it's not too late.

There is way more variety in the family than usually expected. Some Scaptia species apparently don't bite at all, and they're pretty colorful! In the US, Stonemyia, Pegasomyia, and Esenbeckia are all good potential for strictly nectivorous horseflies that don't bite.

I knew there was non biting mosquitoes, but I didn't know there was non biting horseflies! With bugs there is always more to learn it seems.

 

[HexLazerr]

I knew there was non biting mosquitoes, but I didn't know there was non biting horseflies! With bugs there is always more to learn it seems.

Those non biting horseflies are really cool, but i have yet to ever see one in person. Even the phorids in our house are starting to look appealing to keep.
Really though, there is some different species i've never seen before that came in with the last batch of crickets. They seem to be poor fliers and prefer soil, so no harm in attempting to culture these!

 

[CladeArthropoda]

Those non biting horseflies are really cool, but i have yet to ever see one in person. Even the phorids in our house are starting to look appealing to keep.
Really though, there is some different species i've never seen before that came in with the last batch of crickets. They seem to be poor fliers and prefer soil, so no harm in attempting to culture these!

You are carrying the diptera hobby all alone on your back. In the future people will look back upon you as a great founder.

 

[Hisserdude]

I keep and culture a couple different species of Moth flies (Psychodidae) as pets, and plan on acquiring at least another two species soon.

Setomima nitida:



Clogmia albipunctata:



A very easy to keep and breed family of Diptera, if anyone's interested I have a caresheet here that outlines their husbandry.

 

[HexLazerr]

I keep and culture a couple different species of Moth flies (Psychodidae) as pets, and plan on acquiring at least another two species soon.

Setomima nitida:

View attachment 461817

Clogmia albipunctata:

View attachment 461819

A very easy to keep and breed family of Diptera, if anyone's interested I have a caresheet here that outlines their husbandry.

Moth flies! It's a shame it's too late in the season to find some, but i'd really love to keep these some day.

 

[HexLazerr]

You are carrying the diptera hobby all alone on your back. In the future people will look back upon you as a great founder.

I decided to start with a common family, Calliphoridae! This will be the first time attempting to raise multiple generations, but i've gotten females to oviposit and raised larvae to maturity many times. The larvae are fun to raise and the adults of many species are relatively large.
Calliphora vicina female feeding on thawed beef heart: