Journal: STAR Protocols

Article Title: Protocol to measure temporal consumption and feeding choices of Drosophila adults using capillaries

doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2025.103931

Figure Lengend Snippet: Introduce flies into multiCAFE cage (A) Material needed: (1) a multiCAFE cage, (2) two microscope slides, (3) a comb, (4) a mouth aspirator, and (5) at least 8 flies as needed. (B) Introduce a microscope slide between the vertical branches of the multiCAFE cage, by sliding it in the lateral grooves up to the end. (C) Add a “comb” to prevent the slide from moving up and later to prevent flies from escaping. Flip the cage upside down so that the slide is now at the bottom of the cage. (D) Catch a fly with your aspirator. (E) Slide in a microscope slide over the first cage (that will remain empty) and with a mouth aspirator, blow out one fly in the next cage. Push quickly the microscope slide over the cage to trap the fly. Repeat the process 8 times. Note: usually, we leave empty the cells 1 and 10 (see numbers below the row of cells on the figure). (F) At the end of the process, center the slide and fix it in position with tape on each side. Eventually label each tape to remember how to place the capillaries (here “suc/caf” on the left for “sucrose versus caffeine” and “CS” on the right tab for “Canton S”).

Article Snippet: Fill the capillaries and align them on a microscope glass slide The capillaries are filled by capillarity when plunged into the solution within an Eppendorf.

Techniques: Introduce, Microscopy

Journal: STAR Protocols

Article Title: Protocol to measure temporal consumption and feeding choices of Drosophila adults using capillaries

doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2025.103931

Figure Lengend Snippet: Fill the capillaries and align them on a microscope glass slide The capillaries are filled by capillarity when plunged into the solution within an Eppendorf. Take each capillary out of the Eppendorf and dry the outer surface by rolling it on a sheet of paper. The capillaries can be handled with forceps. Align the capillaries parallel to each other on a 3D-printed template to transfer them onto a microscope slide. (A) Material needed: (1) a multiCAFE template, (2) one microscope slide, (3) double sided sticky tape, (4) fine forceps to handle capillaries, (5) capillaries, (6) test solution 1 and (7) test solution 2. (B) Insert capillaries in the Eppendorf tubes. Catch one capillary at a time and roll it over a sheet of paper to dry it externally. Then position it in one of the grooves of the template. Do it sequentially so that all capillaries filled with solution 1 are on the left of each cage and all capillaries of solution 2 are on the right. (C) Place double-sided sticky tape over the length of the microscope slide and cut the sides. (D) Turn the slide over and position it over the capillaries that have been aligned previously. Press gently the glass slide to make the capillaries stick to the tape and then remove the slide. If some capillaries are slightly mis-oriented realign them with forceps or repeat the operation.

Article Snippet: Fill the capillaries and align them on a microscope glass slide The capillaries are filled by capillarity when plunged into the solution within an Eppendorf.

Techniques: Microscopy

Journal: STAR Protocols

Article Title: Protocol to measure temporal consumption and feeding choices of Drosophila adults using capillaries

doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2025.103931

Figure Lengend Snippet: Prepare the cage for recording (A) Insert the microscope slide with the capillaries into the multiCAFE cage, remove the comb and push the slide so that the capillaries protrude inside of each cell. If some capillaries are misaligned, gently realign them with forceps. (B) Place the multiCAFE cage in the cap of the recording box. The cap has lateral flaps and a central groove. The dimensions of the multiCAFE cage are adapted to fit inside of the central groove. Secure the cage to the cap with putty. (C) Place the cap with the cage over the recording box and close the flaps. Note the undulated blue line that represents a humidified filter paper placed next to the multiCAFE cage. Position the recording box in front of the light panel. It is fine to start recording even before the cap is in place, to ensure no image is lost. (D) Sample of the first image of an experiment. The camera zooms on a single cage.

Article Snippet: Fill the capillaries and align them on a microscope glass slide The capillaries are filled by capillarity when plunged into the solution within an Eppendorf.

Techniques: Microscopy