Phorid Flies

[Necromion]

So been trying to do some searching on these little buggers as I've got some in my recently purchased P. metallica's enclosure. I know they can be a problem for some people and sorry if I seem a little paranoid but I really would rather not lose "her" to the bloody things. I have rehoused her and put the old enclosure in my insect freezer. But here are my questions:

A, are they going to be a problem for her as in will they kill her?

B, she hasnt eatten since i purchased her but she does have full use of her chalicerae as she was more then happy to show off her fangs as i rehoused her and looked her over for maggots/eggs (i did not notice any) but could this be the cause as the little buggers may have been harassing/pestering her. that and she has killed the couple crickets i have attempted to feed her but i do suspect this is because of a molt.

any help and questions are welcome as this is my first experiance with this species and i really dont want to lose her.

 

[awiec]

I believe one treatment is to take slightly salty water and dab the mouth with it, the larva will fall off but it sounds like you have a fiesty p.met like me so that might be a challenge. Since you rehoused her I assume everything in the new cage is clean, so I would try to keep her drier as the flies need somewhere moist to reproduce and are attracted to organic matter. They complete their life cycle in a month so it might take a few to get rid of them. There are little fly traps designed for them that you can grab at the store that you can hang near your cages, eventually they should all die, I would also separate her from your collection, they might spread to your more humid cages.

 

[cold blood]

Just keep the cage clean and dry it out for a while.

 

[IHeartTs]

If they get in the mouth, that can be lethal. Just watch out for that. Other than what you did and the other suggestions, thats pretty much it. I'd quarantine them because phorids can spread and take out a collection. You seem to have it under control, so I think it'll be ok. I'd call the place you got the infected crickets from though. I had just heard about my friend dealing with a infestation that took out 5 Ts and a communal, so I was paranoid buying crickets. Low and behold, next batch had phorids. I tossed them before they made it in the house. I called the petstore so they would toss the shipment.

 

[Necromion]

If they get in the mouth, that can be lethal. Just watch out for that. Other than what you did and the other suggestions, thats pretty much it. I'd quarantine them because phorids can spread and take out a collection. You seem to have it under control, so I think it'll be ok. I'd call the place you got the infected crickets from though. I had just heard about my friend dealing with a infestation that took out 5 Ts and a communal, so I was paranoid buying crickets. Low and behold, next batch had phorids. I tossed them before they made it in the house. I called the petstore so they would toss the shipment.

Ive contacted the breeder i bought her from as she was still in the deli container i bought her in, and it was the only container i was having the flies in. so im going to give it a shot. Ive put her in a seperate area, though time will still be the telling factor.

 

[IHeartTs]

Ive contacted the breeder i bought her from as she was still in the deli container i bought her in, and it was the only container i was having the flies in. so im going to give it a shot. Ive put her in a seperate area, though time will still be the telling factor.

Well I hope she's ok . Stupid flies. If you can eradicate them quick and they haven't reproduced, it might be ok. I'd just be diligent in checking the mouth. Update us! I wanna know what happens. Best of luck!

 

[LythSalicaria]

It would also be wise to dump some Draino or undiluted bleach down every sink in your living space. I had a Phorid infestation a while back and while I was in the process of learning how to deal with them, a few sources stated that they can reproduce in sink traps. Bleach or Draino will prevent this from happening.

 

[Graeboe]

Believe it or not i had found an indoor bug zapper type device that has a black light to attract them and uses a fan to suck them down onto a screen where they end up dying. I leave it running by my cricket cages but it would work well in anyplace that there are little things flying around. I've found it works like a charm and would be a good deterrent from anything winged spreading

 

[Acro]

Believe it or not i had found an indoor bug zapper type device that has a black light to attract them and uses a fan to suck them down onto a screen where they end up dying. I leave it running by my cricket cages but it would work well in anyplace that there are little things flying around. I've found it works like a charm and would be a good deterrent from anything winged spreading

What's the name of that device?

 

[viper69]

I'd like to know too

 

[just1moreT]

Me 3 on the like to know

 

[Graeboe]

I'll try and remember to grab a pic and name when I get home

 

[Graeboe]

Here we go

 

[MrDave]

Amazon has a few, including one that looks a lot like Graeboe's. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...indoor+bug+zapper&sprefix=indoor+bug+,aps,418

 

[Poec54]

Just keep the cage clean and dry it out for a while.

The best way to prevent them.

---------- Post added 02-28-2015 at 05:36 PM ----------

It would also be wise to dump some Draino or undiluted bleach down every sink in your living space. I had a Phorid infestation a while back and while I was in the process of learning how to deal with them, a few sources stated that they can reproduce in sink traps. Bleach or Draino will prevent this from happening.

Not a good idea if you're on a septic tank.

---------- Post added 02-28-2015 at 05:37 PM ----------

Believe it or not i had found an indoor bug zapper type device that has a black light to attract them and uses a fan to suck them down onto a screen where they end up dying. I leave it running by my cricket cages but it would work well in anyplace that there are little things flying around. I've found it works like a charm and would be a good deterrent from anything winged spreading

I've got house spiders in my spider room, and they do a great job of controlling flies, which used to be a problem for me. The price is right too.

 

[Graeboe]

I've got house spiders in my spider room, and they do a great job of controlling flies, which used to be a problem for me. The price is right too.

Yeah if the girls weren't freaked about regular spiders that would work. Try and get them to spray the pool deck down for spiders.

 

[Poec54]

You can also get fly tape, the non-chemical kind. Getting rid of flies is cheap and easy.