• Remove the hollow stopper from the top of the anesthetizer and check the inner chamber to see that it is empty and that the small holes to the outer chamber are not blocked.

• Remove the cap from the bottom of the anesthetizer and check the foam pad for ether.

• If you do not smell ether on the pad, fill the hollow stopper about one-third full of ether and pour it on the foam pad.  If you do smell ether on the pad, add less ether.  Caution: ether is flammable!

• After adding the ether, place the cap back on the bottom of the anesthetizer and plug the inner chamber at the other end with the hollow stopper.

• Set the anesthetizer aside for several minutes while the ether penetrates into the inner chamber.

• Prepare to transfer flies from a culture vial to the anesthetizer by lightly tapping the vial against your hand or the table.  This will knock the flies away from the foam plug at the top of the vial.  Caution: if you tap too hard, the flies may get stuck in the media at the bottom of the vial.

• As you continue knocking the flies away, ease the foam plug toward the top of the vial but do not remove it yet.

• Just before transferring flies from the vial to the anesthetizer, open the inner chamber of the anesthetizer by removing the hollow stopper.

• When the last flies have been knocked away, quickly remove the foam plug from the culture vial, invert the open vial over the inner chamber and press the vial against the top of the anesthetizer.

• Keeping the vial and anesthetizer together, lightly tap the unit against your hand or the table so that the flies fall from the vial into the inner chamber of the anesthetizer.  Caution: if you tap too hard, not only the flies but the media will fall into the chamber.

• When the flies have been transferred, quickly invert and plug the vial using its base to seal the top of the anesthetizer.

• Keeping the vial and anesthetizer together as a unit, continue tapping until any flies clinging to the slope have slid into the inner chamber.

• You may now remove the vial and plug the inner chamber with the hollow stopper.

• If the flies are to be kept alive, remove them from the anesthetizer about 20 to 30 seconds after they stop walking around.

• If the flies are to be terminated, leave them in the anesthetizer for several minutes before removing them.

* The Carolina Anesthetizer is a product of Carolina Biological Supply Company  www.carolina.com . 
 
 

CONTACT PERSON:  Robert Weibust - weibust@mnstate.edu

LAST UPDATE:  4/25/04

MSUM is an equal opportunity educator and employer