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How do I manage mites in my Drosophila stocks?
Andrew Barrett
Friday, 13 April 2007 18:40 UTC
A question for all Drosophila researchers: although our own stocks are free of mites, I have noticed that newly acquired stocks from other sources are sometimes not so healthy! What is the best method of quarantine to avoid contaminating all our precious stocks? Has anyone noticed if the types of vials or bungs have any affect on stemming mite infestations? Also, are there any chemical methods for getting rid of the mites without harming the flies? Any advice would be gratefully received!
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Replies
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Placing ALL new stocks that come to the lab(not just those where mites do not seem to be present) is essential in limiting mite infections. Examine all stocks as soon as they arrive and if you see mites then select a small number of flies and check they are free of mites and their eggs under a microscope. Wash everything down really well with 70% ethanol afterwards. Proceed with the quarantine procedures below in fresh tubes. Freeze potentially infected bungs and tubes and discard in an area away from where flies are stored.
Keep the stocks in an area where other stocks are not kept. Because the life cycle of mites is slightly longer than that of Drosophila, turning the stocks over every 4-5 days during the quarantine period helps prevent any mites from overcoming the stock. After 3-4 weeks inspect all the tubes carefully and, if clean, move into your stock collection.
Also, routinely keeping fly storage and handling areas clean and tidy is important, as is wiping down areas with ethanol regularly. Using these regimes I have never experienced a serious mite problem. We simply use cotton wool for bungs, which is cheaper than the foam bungs recommended for mite control. One can also buy insecticidal paper (e.g. from Genesee Scientific) for lining tray or shelves.
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