[MattTele]

Hey,
Just made my first 2 melano cultures after only doing turkish gliders for a while, and the pupae arent using the sides of the cup or the excelsior but just the top layer of the medium. Did i do something wrong? Or is this normal?
-Matt

 

[Ed]

The humidity in the culture may be a little low.

Ed

 

[MattTele]

That was one of my concerns! Thanks Ed!

 

[oli]

Question: what is the reason for fruit fly larvae to shrivel up, die, and turn dark brown on the walls of the container? Is that also a lack of humidity in the culture or something else? I've only seen it happen to 2 cultures that I had bought a few weeks back. Thanks...

 

[Ed]

Question: what is the reason for fruit fly larvae to shrivel up, die, and turn dark brown on the walls of the container? Is that also a lack of humidity in the culture or something else? I've only seen it happen to 2 cultures that I had bought a few weeks back. Thanks...

If you are sure it isn't due to pupation then it can be due to an inherited proteobacteria known as Wolbachia or by a viral agent. Or somehow your culture equipment is contaminated with Bt.

Ed