Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

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Rodney
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Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#1 Post by Rodney » Sun May 03, 2015 9:16 pm

I was just looking at the compound eye structure of a fruit fly I have on the slide. This is a very small fly that seems to be more prevalent in my area this year, I may try to capture a few pictures through the microscope of the general head area. For now the eye structure looks real good, anyone taken a look at the fruit fly?

Rodney

JimT
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#2 Post by JimT » Sun May 03, 2015 9:49 pm

I haven't but will look forward to some photos.

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mrsonchus
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#3 Post by mrsonchus » Sun May 03, 2015 11:43 pm

Sounds interesting to me - look forward to your pictures.
John B

Rodney
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#4 Post by Rodney » Mon May 04, 2015 1:38 am

Ok I will try to capture a decent picture of the fruit fly eye and head area. The specimen on the slide has dried up and the general points of my interest seem to have collapsed for the compound eye structures, I should be able to obtain a fresh one soon. I may be able to hydrate this eye section for a reasonable photo even with decomp. Later.

Rodney

billbillt
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#5 Post by billbillt » Mon May 04, 2015 12:52 pm

I would also like to see pictures of this..

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mrsonchus
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#6 Post by mrsonchus » Mon May 04, 2015 1:50 pm

Rodney wrote:Ok I will try to capture a decent picture of the fruit fly eye and head area. The specimen on the slide has dried up and the general points of my interest seem to have collapsed for the compound eye structures, I should be able to obtain a fresh one soon. I may be able to hydrate this eye section for a reasonable photo even with decomp. Later.

Rodney
To re-hydrate (and perhaps sanitize..) you may try say 20ml of 50/50 glycerin & water (preferably DI) with 2 drops of Listerine or similar - I've made very good use of this in the past. May be worth a try even if for the sake of the experiment. :) note, The colour of Listerine or similar will have no effect on your results whatsoever, the colourant in my experience doesn't compromise your specimen at all.

Good luck.
John B

billbillt
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#7 Post by billbillt » Mon May 04, 2015 2:59 pm

Thanks for posting the re-hydration instructions....

Rodney
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#8 Post by Rodney » Mon May 04, 2015 4:12 pm

Thanks for the extra information John. The fruit fly head was removed. Picture taken at 100x low camera resolution. This is not a very good picture but you may be able to make out the compound eye structures. Also the other eye has collapsed.

Rodney
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billbillt
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#9 Post by billbillt » Mon May 04, 2015 5:59 pm

That is a creepy and cool photo..

Rodney
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#10 Post by Rodney » Mon May 04, 2015 9:41 pm

This is the way I catch them. Pour one ounce of grape wine with alcohol that is, and pour into open container and wait. I`m sure other wines will work. If you have fruit flies around they will find the wine. They will drink the wine and get drunk, I then pick them up with a tooth pick or something and place them into the killing jar of alcohol. After a few minutes they are now dead.

Rodney

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gekko
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Re: Fruit Fly Compound Eye Structure:

#11 Post by gekko » Tue May 05, 2015 3:53 pm

Interesting procedure. Nice image with beautiful colors.

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