🍓 Hydei Fruit Fly Care Guide
(Drosophila hydei — larger, flightless fruit flies)
Hydei are bigger and meatier than melanogaster, making them perfect for L3–L5 mantises and other small insectivores. They breed a little slower but produce large, long-lasting cultures.
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🧪 Supplies Needed
•32–48 oz deli cups or culture jars
•Ventilated lids (fabric mesh, coffee filter, or foam plug)
•Dry fruit fly media
•Excelsior or coffee filters
•A healthy starter culture of hydei
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🥣 Fruit Fly Media
You can use a commercial mix or homemade media. A good recipe includes:
•Potato flakes
•Brewer’s yeast
•Sugar/honey
•Vinegar or citric acid (mold inhibitor)
Mix with water until the texture is thick batter / wet oatmeal.
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🪵 Excelsior / Climbing Material
Important for pupation and holding humidity down:
•Wood excelsior (preferred)
•Coffee filters
•Shredded cardboard
Fill ⅓ of the cup loosely.
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🌡️ Temperature & Humidity
•Temp: 74–82°F
•(Hydei breed slower than melanogaster — higher temps help a lot.)
•Humidity: Normal household humidity is fine.
•Avoid condensation; too much moisture causes mold and culture collapse.
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🧬 Life Cycle Timeline (Hydei)
Hydei take longer than melanogaster:
Stage
Time
Eggs laid
Within 24 hours of seeding
Larvae
~5–7 days
Pupae
~6–10 days
New flies emerge
~16–20 days
Peak production
Days 20–35
Culture decline
After ~5–6 weeks