Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent organism for genetic studies—and a rapid flier. Many methods, from chilling to ether to carbon dioxide, are used to immobilize fruit flies for examination. Using these techniques, the novice often kills the flies or has many escapees. Carolina’s FlyNap® anesthetic is an easy-to-use, safe, effective, and inexpensive way to anesthetize fruit flies. Unlike ether, FlyNap® is not explosive and anesthetizes flies from 50 minutes to several hours after a single application.

How to use FlyNap®

Use FlyNap® under a fume hood or in a well-ventilated area. Fruit flies can be anesthetized in an empty vial, in a Drosophila anesthetizer, or in their original culture vessel; however, anesthetizing flies in culture vials containing media risks drowning unconscious flies. If it is not possible to transfer flies to an empty vial, either lay the culture vial containing medium on its side while anesthetizing the flies or position it at a 45° angle with the mouth facing down.

The key to successfully anesthetizing your flies with FlyNap® is to expose them to it until 90 to 95% of the flies fall asleep. There are many factors that influence exposure time, such as the presence/absence of media in the vial, number of flies in the culture, the age of the flies, and the size of the vial. Thus, basing the exposure time on the percentage of flies that are asleep is the most effective method to prevent overexposure.

FlyNap® kits

Each of our Drosophila kits contains a FlyNap® kit; however, FlyNap® kits are also available for individual purchase and include everything needed to anesthetize flies (a vial of anesthetic, anesthetic wands, and a morgue). You really get a great deal for the price—a 10-mL bottle of FlyNap® contains 100 doses and a 100-mL bottle contains 1,000 doses. Try easy-to-use, safe, effective, and inexpensive FlyNap® today.

• FlyNap® Kit
• FlyNap®/Anesthetizer Kit