Flightless vs wingless drosophila

[Rebel]

I have bred fruit flies several times, and regardless of how they started, all we're flying and escaping within a few generations. I have noticed that there is a distinction between "flightless" and "wingless" cultures, with some dealers making claims about which revert to flight and which do not. Is one type better than the other, or can both potentially mutate back to the flying type.

[flybyferns]

Hi,

The turkish gliders are great. They ,kind of, scoot and never fly.

However, you never want to accidentally mix up 2 species in one ff culture!
I'm sure you know ...........you'll have a real mess!

Genetic mayhem !

Lynn

[Tonya Freeman]

Turkish Gliders are by far my favorite! They are my frog's favorites as well! Like Lynn said, they do not fly.. they do however seem to do a little bit of hopping which really gets the frog's attention.

Anyways, back to your question. I've never had this happen.. but I do know that if you mix specific species.. they will breed flying offspring. If a fruit fly from your home happens to get into your cultures, they will breed flying offspring. When opening the lid you need to be very cautious that there are no flying insects around. I've had the occasional flying fruit fly sitting on top of my culture lids before. It only takes that one little guy getting in there to throw the entire thing into a flying frenzy! That is the only thing that I could think of. I've never heard of them mutating back to a flying variety.

[Heatheranne]

Hi,

The turkish gliders are great. They ,kind of, scoot and never fly.

However, you never want to accidentally mix up 2 species in one ff culture!
I'm sure you know ...........you'll have a real mess!

Genetic mayhem !

Lynn

Lol!!!!
Had to chuckle . So true.

[fish4all]

I have used wingless whenever I used fruit flies. Fruit flies with wings can, if the temperature gets too high mutate to flying flies. And as everyone has said, if one flying fruit fly gets in all bets are off.

I do prefer the wingless because they can not glide so if one manages to miss the tank it falls straight down.

[pissedbudgie]

Fruit flies with wings can, if the temperature gets too high mutate to flying flies.

I was going to add this very point. During our unusually hot summer, I purchased a culture online and there was a note in there from them with an appology saying that due to the high temps I may get some able to fly.
I only noticed a couple that could fly so it wasn't a problem.

[MichaelS]

"Reverting" to flying is more often caused by mixing or wild ones getting in. I've bred fruit flies for over 30 years and rarely produce fliers.