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Just read an article on nematode infection in the journal and I see they are brought in on Phorid flies,but what exactly are these and how likely would I encounter them? I've seen pics via Google but they were in reference to American fire ants. What do the flies feed on normally?
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Phorid flies (aka hump-backed flies - and also coffin flies because they are found in mortuaries!) are fruit-fly-sized carrion (and other decaying organic matter) feeders that are especially attracted to the remains of uneaten insect prey. Hobbyists encounter them when they enter the terrarium to feed on dead insects (especially crickets). They reproduce quickly and leave behind maggots that are a bit larger than those of fruit flies. They are best prevented by removing uneaten food immediately, offering only prey that will be immediately consumed so prey doesn't die in the cage, and paying close attention to remove the bolus left behind after a meal. They have a preference for moist decaying organic matter (mostly animal, but also plant) and can also be minimized by avoiding damp stagnant conditions. Keep your feeder insect cages clean, removing dead insects daily. They become abundant first in cricket and roach cages and then opportunistically move toward arachnid terraria.
Best regards, MichaelMICHAEL JACOBI - exoticfauna@gmail.com
-> Exotic Fauna, The Tarantula Bibliography, ARACHNOCULTURE E-Zine - exoticfauna.com
-> The British Tarantula Society - thebts.co.uk | michael.jacobi@thebts.co.uk
-> TARANTULAS.com - tarantulas.com -
Yep, they're over here Larry. Look out for infested boxes of crickets with them in. They can be swarming with the things.
They can be differentiated from fungus gnats (the other fly you may see in with your spiders) fairly easily, because they scuttle from place to place in a zig zag motion (they're also called scuttle flies) and are loathe to take off and fly away when disturbed.
I could go on (and on) about them but I'll leave it there to save boring the c*ap out of everyone
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