X-Message-Number: 27184
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 11:32:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: 199'th update on fly longevity experiments

     This is the 199'th update of my fly longevity experiments. Average
 temperature was 27.8 C during this run. Estimated maximal longevity using
 the formula (363 - T*11.2) is 52 days.
     This run retests some spices. Cardamon in run #8, and marjoram in run
 #10 offered a slight advantage over controls, while tarragon at a 1/4 tsp
 dosage offered far better survival than controls in runs #55 and #63.
     I wasn't too surprised to see that cardamon and marjoram turned out
 to be duds this time, given their unconvincing performances in past runs.
 However tarragon did prove to be a major disappointment. Although
 tarragon bested both cardamon and marjoram at all doses, it still could
 not beat the control bottles. I attribute this difference to the fact
 that I use only relatively fresh fly food in my experiments now. I order
 smaller amounts of this, on a more frequent basis. I suspect many of my
 earlier "hits" occurred when additives helped suppress bacterial growth
 when "old" fly food was used.
     The maximum survival of just 32 days in this run is probably due to
 the use of an "old" breeding bottle. In fact so few flies were found in
 one breeder, that it has to be combined with a second to yield enough
 flies to start this run. An increase in breeding bottle turnover has
 since been instituted.

 Run #199      Percent Survival on Day
 supplement        13 20 26 32 38
 ________________________________
 control one       41 22 15  0  -
 control two       63 40 13  7  0
 cardamon 1/8 tsp  29 19  5  0  -
   "      1/4 tsp  19 10  5  0  -
   "      1/2 tsp   6  6  0  -  -
 marjoram 1/8 tsp  20  7  0  -  -
   "      1/4 tsp  13  6  0  -  -
   "      1/2 tsp   0  -  -  -  -
 tarragon 1/8 tsp  46 39  8  0  -
   "      1/4 tsp  44 17  6  6  0
   "      1/2 tsp  23  8  0  -  -

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