How Cold Can Fruit Flies Survive?
WouterWhile fruit flies aren’t usually killed by cold weather, it can hinder the reproduction process. Cold temperatures can cause the eggs to hatch slowly, preventing the flies from developing as quickly as they should. They may also become inactive during the coldest days, unable to find food. They might even die if the temperature remains too low for too long.
Fruit flies need a temperature of around 78°F to survive. The easiest way to keep them warm is by placing them near a heat source. A culture placed near a ceiling will be warmer than one that is placed on the floor. Another good way to keep them warm is to use an incubator.
Fruit flies are cold-blooded, but that doesn’t mean that they are always cold. Although they can’t regulate their body temperature, they can survive in a cold environment. In fact, they can survive at 25°C when they are in the lab. But when the temperature outside drops below that level, their cells will drop to 18°C. And the eggs, which develop in female fruit flies, will survive at a temperature of about 18°C.
Interestingly, fruit flies are capable of surviving in liquid nitrogen. This is because their larvae can accumulate the amino acid L-proline in their body, which helps them survive in cold conditions. Another study conducted by Czech researchers found that fruit fly larvae fed a cryoprotectant diet were able to survive even after half of their body water froze. They eventually metamorphosed into adults and produced viable offspring.
