Black Soldier Fly Larvae

[GaryD]

Hi Frank,

quite a sophisticated harvesting rig!

Thanks.....but if you want to see a really sophisticated BSF unit.....try here.

could it be possible to have a ramp right out of the composting bin and straight up to the fish tank? would avoid all manipulation

Yes, you could.....but I suggest that arrangement would be best suited to a very large fish tank or pond. A small system might experience water quality issues as a result of uncontrolled feeding of larvae. The Bio-Pod eliminates all of the less pleasant contact opportunities.

and do BSF and worms live together in peace? can they be combined?

They will often be seen in the same compost bin but (generally speaking) the appetite of BSF larvae is so voracious that they displace other organisms.....usually by denying them access to food. BSF larvae will also eat other fly larvae and eggs so I imagine that they would treat worm capsules and juveniles similarly.

My review of the available research suggests that BSF castings retain up to 50% of their original protein levels so they would certainly make good worm bedding after the BSF larvae had been harvested.

Garyd

[GaryD]

Hi,

I thought I'd introduce you to my latest toy......a BSF BioPod.

About 600mm in diameter, the BioPod is a total BSF production system. You put your kitchen scraps into it, the female BSF lays her eggs adjacent to the scraps and the eggs hatch into a writhing mass of BSF larvae.

Once the larvae have gone through their five pupations, they crawl up the little ramp around the edge of the 'Pod and into a receptacle. The unit is fitted with a plastic jar which catches any leachate that drains from the kitchen scraps.

I transferred the contents of my compost bin into the BioPod.....it's now about 3/4 full. The compost contained lots of larvae so I should get a good harvest within the next few days.

The BioPod is now available for sale in Brisbane. I'll obtain the details and post them as soon as I have them.

GaryD

[GaryD]

Hi,

After just 12 hours, my new BioPod has yielded a larvae harvest.

Compared to my previous BSF harvesting efforts, this is really easy.

Photo 1.....the contents of the harvesting receptacle......Photo 2....the harvest all packaged up for the freezer.

GaryD

[Murray]

Where can I get one Gary. Does someone here in Brissie have them in stock ?

[GaryD]

Hi Murray,

The local contact for the BioPod is David Watson. His mobile number is 0412 345 089. The residential BioPod (the one I bought) costs $279.00.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

I thought it was time for an update on my BSF activities.

• Photo 1.......a 2 litre ice cream container full of kitchen scraps is deposited in the BioPod at 8.00pm.

• Photo 2.....what remains of the scraps at 6.00am the next morning.

• Photo 3.....the BSF female does not deposit her eggs directly in the compost but rather in a place which is near to the food source. Once the eggs hatch, the tiny larvae head for the food. The BioPod is fitted with several Corflute discs. The spaces in the discs are where the BSF female lays her eggs. The buff marks on the discs are where the eggs have been laid.

We're getting a small harvest of larvae every morning.

GaryD

[GaryD]

Hi,

I use meat meal to boost the protein level in the ration that I feed to my quail. I discovered that about 1.5kg of it had gone mouldy so I decided to feed it to my BSF larvae. I mixed it about 2:1 with a blend of wheat bran and pollard and water to form a stiff mix.

Last night, I added about three litres of the mix to my BioPod (along with a 2 litre container of kitchen scraps). This morning, it had gone ....and the collection bucket was about 1/4 full of larvae.

I added a further 4 litres of the meat meal/mill run mix this morning and when I arrived home about ten hours later it was gone, too. Tonight, I checked the collection pot and it was half full of larvae. The top of the BioPod is absolutely crawling.....and I'm a happy man.

GaryD

[Hamish]

Hi Gary,

I was wondering if you have ever tried or considered adding a few worms to the Biopod to help break down the left overs from the BSF Larvae further.

I am toying with the idea for my Biopod - figure it might be a way to sweeten up the lechate that comes out the bottom - as the worms would airate the leftover stuff at the bottom that the BSF have not eaten - and make sure it was not going anerobic.

[GaryD]

Hi Hamish,

I was wondering if you have ever tried or considered adding a few worms to the Biopod to help break down the left overs from the BSF Larvae further.

I think you'll find that, once the BSF larvae are established, they'll displace any worms that might be in your BioPod. BSF larvae have voracious appetites....and that may well include work capsules and even worms.

Gary

[Hamish]

I have been trying to work out if there have been any eggs layed in the BioPod or if the BSF Larvae are from the initial batch of seed larvae that was given to me when I purchased the BioPod.

I just went to feed the BioPod and with a torch I noticed a couple of very small larvae - not sure if they are BSF or not. Could be some other larvae.

If the small larvae are BSF Larvae then I have obviously missed seeing the eggs altogether.