Fruit flies study in home lab

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

IDENTIFICATION OF FRUIT FLY
To Identify Single Line Culture Fruit Flies Looking Their Morphological Characters.

Objective is to identify native drosophila melanogaster in my locality area.

Fruit flies are a very small oval fly with adults growing only to be 3mm length. Their thorax is tan in color and their abdomen is black with a gray underbelly, fruit flies , however tend to have an overall tan appearance. Fruit flies often have red eyes, although some can have dark colored eyes (Phorid fly)

Reference : Fruit Flies - Types, Facts, and How to Identify | Fruit Fly Infestation | Holder's Pest Solutions.

Fruit flies which are belongings to,

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Diptera
Family:Drosophilidae
Genus:Drosophila

The Order Diptera (true flies) includes many common insects such as mosquitoes, midges, sand flies, blowflies and the House Fly, Fruit Fly.

Most of the insects we see flying around do so with four wings (two pairs), but dipterans (meaning ‘two wings’) use only one pair & 3 pair of legs which are present in their body.

Characteristics of the order - Diptera

• One pair of wings (forewings)
• 3 pair of legs
• A large and moveable head
• Compound eyes that are often very large
• Sucking, piercing and sucking or sponge-like mouthparts (all adapted for a liquid diet).

Referred from Morphology of Diptera - Wikipedia
Pictures captured by @saswathy679

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

Where can we find fruit flies !!?..

Fruit flies are especially attracted to ripened Fruits and vegetables in the kitchen. But they also will breed in drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash containers, mops and cleaning rags. All that is needed for development is a moist film of fermenting material.
Fruit Flies observed in ;

1)

Banana pieces

2)

Orange peel

3)

Stoberry pieces

4)

Coconut

5)

Winter Lemon

6)

Lemon

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

How can we culture fruit flies at home ? Is it possible!!!

Why not . We can culture flies using ingredients which are available at our home, specially in our kitchen. So, in here we are making a good healthy halva for for fruit flies .

1st step - Cleaning process
Before media preparation we have to look very important thing, that first one is that ;Cleaning bottles.
Collect same sized any bottles (~100mL,250mL,500mL bottles)
Clean- Washed it well using detergents & Leave it under the sun for drying. After dry bottles take in to inside. Keep it safe place.

2nd step - Media preparation
Media for culturing fruit flies - making TRSV media. Planing to make ~100 media (~100mL) bottles.

Ingredients :

1. Tomato - 1 egg size
2. Rava - 2 table spoon
3. Sugar - 1 table spoon
4. White Vinegar - ~15mL
5. Water - 150mL

Preparation :
•Take a pan add on lower to medium flame. Add150mL water measured using 100 mL bottle (Apple fizz), 2 table spoon rava, 1 table spoon sugar, 1 egg size tomato chopped add, mixed it continuously till 10minutes. After turn off flame. Than put that pan under fan for avoiding heat. After 3 minutes later add ~15mL White vinegar - 4% acetic acid (measured by medicine cap).Mixed it well. Look like dosa batter we can able to transfer well cleaned bottles.

3rd step - Set a Trap
Using any kind of fruit & vegetables put a trap for trapping fruit flies.

4th step - Catching Flies
Take a empty plastic bottle keep in your hand inverted condition. Slowly closer to the bait and trap them. Why we using this method because Fruit flies have a positive geotaxis behavior. After enter flies will not escape.

5th step - Transfer flies
Transferring this flies in to media bottle using this method.we can easily to maintain them this way.

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

ACTIVITIES PATTERN OF FRUIT FLIES

Experiment : To check the activities of fruit flies during day and night time.

Do fruit flies sleep at night!!?

Design of the experiment : Checked flies culture 4 bottles, starting from morning to night to check what kind of activities doing inside bottles like mating, feeding, courtship, walking, egglaying, flying, etc … want to provide/disproved do flies sleep at night!

Set up :

1. 4 Fruit flies freshly made culture bottles taken for this experiment
2. 6 days old culture bottles,
3. Most of the flies newly emerged flies (15/04/2021).
4. Keep this bottles inside home (Hall). There was light not normal conditions.When was taking videos and photos, only that time was on the light in there fot 2sec

Experiment : Taken 5 set videos of that culture bottles at morning & night. Totally ~100 flies (A= ~30, B= ~20, C= ~25, E= ~20)

Observation : Day 1st

Morning :-
7:00am - 20% active
7:30am - 50% active (flying + walking)/ 50% not active
8:00am - 50% active (feeding + walking + flying)
8:30am - 80% active (feeding + walking + flying + courtship behavior)
9:00am - 100% active (feeding + walking + flying + courtship behavior).
Video, Time of the video:9.30am, Date: 21st April 2021

Video, Time of the video:11.30am, Date: 21st April 2021

11.30 am.mp4

Night :-
09:30pm - 50% not active + 50% active
10:00pm - 75% not active + 25% active (walking + flying + playing under cotton plug)
10:30pm - 80% not active + 20% active (walking + flying)
11:00pm - 90% not active + 10% active (walking, but not continuously)
11:30pm - 100% not active.

Video Time of the video: 11.41pm, Date:21st April 2021

Goof Up : I didn’t take continues vidoes ,that make graph became inperfect. almost light is effcting the activities of fruit flies.
Planing to take videos continuously 4 days that will help to get a rhythmic pattern. That will help us to plotting graph.

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

Activities Pattern Of Fruit Flies
Study inside fruit flies cultures bottles

[center]Expectation - Graph[/center]

06:00am - 0% not active
07:00am - 20% active
08:00am - 40% active
09:00am - 60% active
10:00am - 70% active
11:00am - 80% active
12:00pm - 100% active
01:00pm - 85% active
02:00pm - 80% active
03:00pm - 60% active
04:00pm - 40% active
05:00pm - 20% active
06:00pm - 0% not active

{Activities ; Feeding, Mating, Courtship, Egglaying, Walking, Flying}

I am expecting flies activities will increasing after sunrise & get one peak afternoon 12:00pm. After sunset flies activity will decrease slowly.

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

Activities Pattern Of Fruit Flies
[Studying inside fruit flies cultures bottles]

[center]Day 1- Graph[/center]

1).Starting from 7:00am (10%) flies staring active.

2).100% flies active starting from 10:00am.

3).0% activities observed 12:00am till 6:00am

Flies bottles kept inside home & also other LED lights effect the observation. Can see the variations coming in activity pattern of fruit flies during day & night.

[center]Day 2 - Graph[/center]

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

Objective : To study activity pattern of fruit flies (6:00am - 12:00am) inside culture bottles.

Hypothesis : Flies are active during day time and sleep at during night time (certain time) inside culture. We will get a pattern that similar to observed in circadian rhythm study. There is internal clock controlling fruit flies activities day & night.

Number of samples : 4 Bottles newly transferred flies taken for this activity pattern study. (SLBK A15, SLBK B15, SLBK C15, SLBK E10 - 16/04/2021)… In 4 bottles total ~95 flies.

Method of data collection : starting from 6:00am (1 hour) interval taking only 12 sec videos till when flies will completely not active time.

Observation :
•Flies not active 6:00am, 11:00pm (these two time observed flies were not active)
•Flies stated active morning 7:00am (10%)
•Flies (100%) active 11:00am, 12:00pm

Conclusion : Fruit flies active slowly starting from 7:00am till 7:00pm after this flies showing slightly variation came in %.Flies do rest at night (11:00pm - 6:30am) this time observed most flies were in active conditions.

Further plan : Take videos continuously 4 days. To get a proper data.

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

[center]Night Time Activities of Fruit Flies[/center][center]21st April 2021[/center]

9:30pm

Video at 9:30pm - activity pattern of fruit flies [21/04/21]

10:00pm

Video at 10:00pm - activity pattern of fruit flies [21/04/21]

10:30pm

Video at 10:30pm - activity pattern of fruit flies [21/04/21]

11:00pm

Video at 11:00pm - activity pattern of fruit flies [21/04/21]

11:30pm

Video at 11:30pm - activity pattern of fruit flies [21/04/21]

9:30pm,10:00pm,10:30pm,11:00pm,11:30pm - 5set (5sec videos). From 9:30pm flies slowly starting to resting, we can see 50% at 9:30pm,25% at 10:00pm,20% at 10:30pm,10% at 11:00pm, 0% at 11:30pm - observe slowly decreasing activities of fruit flies night time.

[center]Graph[/center]

[drishtantmkawale (Drishtant Maruti)]

Tell us the inference of the observations made so far (in the form of video)!
What is seen in the videos?
More of us would be excited in knowing what is happening inside the bottle after which the video can be seen.

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

@drishtantmkawale, this was showing the activities of fruit flies inside culture bottles. What Iam tried to taken videos that the end point of sleep. my purpose is doing this experiment to find when will fruit flies completely taking rest condition!?. here is 5 set videos started from 9:30pm onwards we can able to see most of flies were are not active conditions. 10:30pm&11:00pm Fruit flies are completely not active.11:30pm showing that flies were end point of rest, not much movement couldn’t able to observe in 4 culture bottle flies.almost this experiment provide that fruit flies sleeping during night time…!

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

[center]Day Time Activities of Fruit Flies[/center][center]22nd April 2020[/center]

7:00am

Video at 7:00am - activity pattern of fruit flies [ 22/04/2021]

7:30am

Video at 7:30am - activity pattern of fruit flies [ 22/04/2021]

8:00am

Video at 8:00am - activity pattern of fruit flies [ 22/04/2021]

8:30am

Video at 8:30am - activity pattern of fruit flies [ 22/04/2021]

9:00am

Video at 9:00am - activity pattern of fruit flies [ 22/04/2021]\

7:00am,7:30am,8:00am,8:30am,9:00am - 5set (5sec videos). From 7:00am flies slowly starting to activities we can see 20% at 7:00am,50% at 7:30am,50% at 8:00am,80% at 8:30am, 100% at 9:00am - observe slowly increasing activities of fruit flies day time.

[center]Graph[/center]

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

[center]Camparing day & night activities of fruit flies inside culture bottles…![/center]

10:00am video _

10:00pm video _

11:00am video _

11:00pm video _

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

Are fruit flies seasonal ?

Fruit flies can be a problem year round, but are especially common during late summer/fall because they are attracted to ripened or fermenting fruits and vegetables. Fruit flies are also attracted to rotting mango, bananas, potatoes, onions and other unrefrigerated produce purchased at the grocery store.

Fruit flies are common household pests that can be a terrible nuisance around our home. These flies are year-round pests, but they are especially prolific in late summer and fall.

Fruit flies move into kitchens, hall, window and basements if they sense a food source. Overripe fruit on the counter or any fermenting matter in drains, mops, and trash bins appeals to them. Unsuspecting homeowners may also bring these pests inside on garden crops.

Fruit flies are especially attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables in the kitchen. But they also will breed in drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash containers, mops and cleaning rags. All that is needed for development is a moist film of fermenting material.

Where do fruit flies come from in the winter?

Adult fruit flies lay eggs in rotting fruit and plant material. They may live in and around your garbage or drain. Cluster flies are common around windows, attics, and basements. They look for warm, secluded places where they can huddle together and enter diapause.

Seasonal Abundance of Mango Fruit Flies (Diptera:Tephritidae) and Ecological Implications for Their Management in Mango and Cashew Orchards in Benin (Centre & North)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281549135_Seasonal_Abundance_of_Mango_Fruit_Flies_Diptera_Tephritidae_and_Ecological_Implications_for_Their_Management_in_Mango_and_Cashew_Orchards_in_Benin_Centre_North

We report study on seasonal population fluctuations of fruit flies (Dipteran Tephritidae) in mango (2005–2009) and cashew (2007–2009) orchards in the Borgou Department, Benin. During the five consecutive years of mango fruit fly. The most abundant species during the dry season, peaked beginning of May.

Activities Of Fruit Flies

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

[center]Feeding Habits Drosophila[/center]

Video: 1

Video: 2

Video - 3

25 April 2021 - 9:03am

Fruit flies were observed rotten ripe Mangoes .During the preoviposition feeding stage, adult fruit flies spend time feeding on fruits, vegetables and other decaying materials.

Photo taken :Aswathy suresh.
Location :Bottukadavu-Thrissur Kerala.

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

[center]IDENTIFICATION - FRUIT FLIES[/center]

To identify native single culture of fruit flies as Native Drosophila Melanogaster by looking at morphological characteristics relevant to Family Drosophilidae, Genus Drosophila and Species melanogaster

SINGLE LINE CULTURE OF FRUIT FLIES

Single Line Cultures of Fruit Flies _ SLBK A, SLBK B, SLBK C, SLBK E - [Single Line Bottukadavu Kerala - A,B,C,E species]. Aim is to find D.melanogaster from native area. that was the aim to made different single line cultures [e.g - A,B,C,E] in my home lab bottukadavu kerala.

Why is Drosophila a good model system?
What is the importance of this flies!!

75 pecent of the genes that cause disease in humans are also found in the fruit fly .Drosophila have a short, simple reproduction cycle. Fruit fly are small (3 mm long) but not so small that they can’t be seen without a microscope. This allows scientists to keep millions of them in the laboratory at a time.This one perticuler fly taken for further research stuies.

Is it all Fruit flies are D.melanogaster… !!?
How many different species in Drosophila ?

Drosophila have many other different species other than D. melanogaster. The genus Drosophila, which contains over 1600 species , is one of the most important model systems in the biological sciences. Drosophila is a genus of flies of the family Drosophilidae.
For example : Drosophila yakuba, Drosophila simulans, Drosophila suzuki… etc

How to identify Drosophilidae family fruit flies by looking through eyes ?
Is it easy to identify at Family level ?..

If we want to identify a fruit flies at Family, Genus, species level we need to look through thier body parts Wing , Head, Throax, Abdomen. we need to look around these body parts.

[center]IDENTIFICATION _ FAMILY OF FRUIT FLY[/center]
[center]DROSOPHILIDAE[/center]

The diagnostic characteristics for Drosophilidae include the presence of an incomplete subcostal vein, two breaks in the costal vein, a small anal cell in the wing.
Cross reference _ Drosophilidae - Wikipedia

Photo taken - @saswathy679

In here major talking about 3 characters ;

1. 2 breaks of costal vein.
2. Incomplete subcostal vein .
3. Anal cell.

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

What is the size of Fruit flies and their wings? is it really very smaller!!!

Picture _ @saswathy679
Sample picture of Fruit fly.
Size of Fruit Fly : 3mm.

This is sample of Dead fruit fly in my mixed culture bottles. Fruit flies are more look like brown color, in this picture shows red compound eyes, one pair of wing, 3 pair of legs, abdomen black strips also can able see in this picture . But picture was not good shows all features Picture was taken using phone camera with flash light. Dead fly sample kept in a white sheet paper.

Picture _ @saswathy679
Sample picture of fruit fly wing.
Size of Wing : 3mm.

This is the wing of fruit flies, transparent ,colorless, and also we can able to many veins passing through wing. Size of wing : 3mm in this picture. Picture was taken using phone camera with flash light. wing kept in a white sheet paper. In this picture is not much clear to see all veins.

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

[center][left]Can we take better photo in our home using available things____ [/left][/center]

[center]Home Lab Microscopy[/center]

Experiment (Photography)

Setup

Model Organism :- Fruit Flies

Wing Identification Family Level

Objective :- To take better photo of 2.8mm - 3mm size wing using home ingredients . To get clear all wing veins for easy to identification.

Experimental materials :-

1.Torch light - white

2.White sheet paper ( Double layer )

3.Transparent sheet (One)

4.Phone camera

Experiment arrangement :-

Bottom → Top

Torchlight → Double layer White sheet paper → Glass paper → Object ( Wing ) → Phone Camera ( Digital Zoom )

Result :- Background get thick no grains .wing veins are almost clear. Color is changed to blue/Violent .

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

another setup___ :-
[center]Experiment (Photography)[/center]

Setup

Model Organism :- Fruit Flies

Wing Identification Family Level

Objective :- To take better photo of 2.8mm - 3mm size wing using home ingredients . To get clear all wing veins for easy to identification.

Experimental materials :-

1.Torch light - white

2.White sheet paper

3.Glass slide

4.Phone camera

Experiment arrangement :-

Bottom → Top

Torchlight → Double layer White sheet paper → Glass paper → Object ( Wing ) → Phone Camera ( Digital Zoom )

Result :- Background get thick no grains .wing veins are almost clear. Color is changed to blue/Violent .

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

[center]Home Lab Microscopy[/center]

Experiment (Photography)

Setup

Model Organism :- Fruit Flies

Wing Identification Family Level

Objective :- To take better photo of 2.8mm - 3mm size wing using home ingredients . To get clear all wing veins for easy to identification.

Experimental materials :-

1.Torch light - Yellow
2.White sheet paper
3.Glass slide
4.Phone camera

Experiment arrangement :-
Bottom → Top

Torchlight (Yellow) → Double layer White sheet paper → Glass slide → Object ( Wing ) → Phone Camera ( Digital Zoom )

[saswathy679 (Aswathy suresh)]

Fruit fly wing picture taken using different setups :-

1st Setup Torch light – Objective ( Wing )

2nd Setup Torch light – Transparent sheet – Objective ( Wing )

3rd Setup Torch light – White sheet paper – Objective ( Wing )

4th Setup Torch light – Transparent sheet - White sheet paper - Objective ( Wing )