For my science fair project, I need to find a way to separate the male fruit flies and the female fruit flies from each other. I know I need to find a way to put them to sleep or anethesize them but I’m not sure how. Please give me some advice or describe to me how to seperate them without harming them.
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1 skidznet // Nov 10, 2008
Fruit flies are a great thing to study for a science project!
Anyways, fruit flies can be anesthetized with a product called Flynap or with a constant stream of CO2. once asleep, they can be put under a dissecting scope (a type of microscope). Maneuver the flies with a small paintbrush to prevent damaging them.
To tell whether or not a fruit fly is male of female, turn the fly upside down and look at the abdomen. Males generally have dark tip, and rougher, smaller abdomens with a genital arch. ( http://www.dgrc.kit.ac.jp/~jdd/bodyparts/abdomen_ventral/genital_arch.gif ) Females are larger, have a light, smoothish abdomen and sometimes an eggtube protruding out of the back of the abdomen.
I hope that helps a little.