Fruit Fly Culture

DROSOPHILA HYDEI – LIVE FRUIT FLY CULTURE

An established live culture of Drosophila hydei, ideal as live food for jumping spiders, spiderlings, mantis nymphs, dart frogs and other small insectivorous animals.

Drosophila hydei are larger than Drosophila melanogaster, making them an excellent feeder for animals that need small but more substantial prey.

YOUR CULTURE IS ALIVE AND CONTINUES TO DEVELOP

Your culture may contain different life stages at the same time:

• Tiny crawling larvae – these may look like very small white/cream worms moving through the culture medium. This is completely normal and a good sign that the culture is reproducing.

• Larger larvae – as they grow, the larvae become much easier to see.

• Brown pupae – larvae eventually stop crawling and form small brown pupae, often on the sides of the container or around the culture material. Do not throw the culture away – it is not spoiled! New adult flies will emerge from these pupae.

• Adult fruit flies – ready to use as live food.

IMPORTANT – DO NOT HARVEST TOO EARLY

Always leave some adult flies in the culture. Adult flies are needed to lay eggs and maintain the next generation.

No adults = no eggs → no larvae → no new flies.

CARE

Keep the culture at approximately 20–25°C, ideally around 22–24°C, in a stable location away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Keep the container well ventilated and never seal it airtight.

Do not refrigerate.

Do not place on a radiator or in direct sunlight.

Avoid large temperature fluctuations.

Do not add water directly into the culture.

Allow larvae and pupae to remain in the culture and develop naturally.

PLEASE REMEMBER

Fruit fly cultures are living biological cultures. The number of adult flies, larvae and pupae visible when your order arrives will naturally vary depending on the stage of development.

A culture containing lots of larvae or brown pupae but fewer adult flies is not necessarily dead or faulty – it may simply be between generations.

Home bred in the UK 🇬🇧

Live feeder insects – for insectivorous animals only.