I have been making my own fruit fly media for several years. i found the resipe online and i dont know the name of it. until about a couple months ago when all of my fruit fly cultures gradually started taking longer to breed. now in some cultures none of the flys never emerge from their cacoons. the only change that was made is that i moved my flies down to my basement. it is a good temprature down there and they have some light. Is it my media? Does anyone have a good media resipe? My current ingredents are, potato flakes,powdered sugar, yeast and methal paraben, anything that you think might help would be welcome.

Here is the one I use:
8 cups Potato Flakes
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 - 3/4 cup brewers yeast
3-4 tsp. methyl parabon
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. paprika
Mix equal parts media/water - I tend to add more water in the winter.

Josh has a good price on the methyl parabon and brewers yeast.
I keep my brewers yeast and powdered sugar in the fridge.

It is could be your ff's, I would try again with a new batch of ffy's and your media.

Sounds like mites to me. Get some spray also keeping them in a rubbermade or staralight drawer type container might help with humidity a pest

I have not had a problem with mites crashing my cultures.
I have had them crash from the media being to dry and mold.

Sterilite containers will definitely help with the humidity As for the mold try to start yeast and warm water in a small bowl this will get the fermentation process starting faster then spoon some on your culture before adding your flies it will activate the yeast so fast mold cannot take affect has work for me every single time