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Parrothead

Black Soldier Fly Larvae

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Parrothead

We just built two Black Solder Fly Larvae (BSFL) compost bins. One was made in accordance to specifications given to us by Olivier Crusoe, who runs an off-grid organic farm, about 1.5 hours from Battambang. I constructed the other, from a combination of images I found on the internet.

 

Both types of construction will work, I imagine. I just want to try to guarantee a strong growth of BSF in this area. They are a very beneficial insect. They are also free protein for both fish and chickens.

 

In my case, I can raise them, along with Duckweed, using both to feed my fish. It will, literally, cost me nothing to feed my fish.

 

Here are those images now: 

 

Compost Bin 1: Concrete, Brick & Mortar Construction

 

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Information: The concrete, brick & mortar compost bin, you will see, has a moat around the perimeter of the group. This is to hold water, preventing ants from getting to the larvae and eating them. I still have to add a few small parts to complete this build. But, it is basically complete.

 

 

Compost Bin 2: Plastic & PVC Construction

 

This second compost bin didn't work out so well. And, the loop fasteners didn't work as intended, either. My suggestion, after having been successful at one complete life cycle of these flies (eggs are inside the compost bin now), is to go with option 1, above.

 

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Information: The hook fastener material is siliconed around the inside perimeter, to prevent the larvae from climbing out of the bin prior to maturity. The two ramps lead to two attached milk cartons, where the larvae will crawl up, once they have matured.

Edited by Paul
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Parrothead

For the BSFL to complete their pupae cycle and become mature adult BSF's, I decided to go with an idea someone gave me. Here, we can buy 5 gallon (20 liters) buckets for something like three buckets for $5.00. Lids are three for $.75¢. So, get the ol' hole saw kit out and pop about six holds around the top perimeter of the bucket, pour in about 10cm (4") of dirt / rice husk mixture in one bucket, dirt and saw dust mixture in another bucket, pour in a handful of pupae stage BSFL, place the lids on them, and leave them be. 

 

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Upon pouring the larvae into the buckets, they will begin to dig themselves into the mixture, to finish maturing into adult flies. 

 

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The reason I am trying different mixtures is, in case one doesn't work. Or, if they die in one bucket, by chance, I figure they will have another chance with a different mixture. 

 

This was the reason I started out with two different compost bins as well. However, I have transferred them all into the brick and morter bin, as it seemed to work the best for the larvae. 

 

Experiment and learn. Trial and error works. 

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Parrothead

lifecycle.jpg

 

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Parrothead

Let me identify a few things here for you. 

 

1. White maggots: These are housefly maggots. Right now, they are still reproducing. Once the black soldier fly colony gets very well established, the numbers of these will slowly disappear. 

 

2. Black larger maggots / larvae: Black soldier fly larvae will begin looking for a way out of the compost bin at this stage. They move around the perimeter until locating the entrance to the ramp. They crawl up the ramp until finding the exit holes, which lead to the milk jugs. If allowed to fall on the ground, they will seek dirt to bury themselves into, in order to finish their transformation into adult black soldier flies.

 

3. Cardboard hanging from the center of the compost bin: This is where the adult female black soldier flies will lay their eggs. Upon hatching, the pupae will fall onto the compost and begin its life cycle. 

 

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Edited by Paul

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scoffer

Your compost is actually quite a lot of food that would be eaten by chickens.

 

What gives you the best return on your investment ?.

Chicken or Fish,  which matures faster and gives allows you to turn a dollar over.

 

I had a similar discussion with my wife's brother in law, 

I was discussing with him the benefit of composting food scraps - he looked at me and said we don't have food scraps.

 

The chickens eat everything we don't and give me eggs and chicks on a regular basis.

Why would I use their food for something else.

 

I could not find a valid reason to argue his point of view.

 

I'm not looking for an argument,  I'd like to understand your reason behind this food supplement.

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Parrothead

Your compost is actually quite a lot of food that would be eaten by chickens.

 

What gives you the best return on your investment ?.

Chicken or Fish,  which matures faster and gives allows you to turn a dollar over.

 

I had a similar discussion with my wife's brother in law, 

I was discussing with him the benefit of composting food scraps - he looked at me and said we don't have food scraps.

 

The chickens eat everything we don't and give me eggs and chicks on a regular basis.

Why would I use their food for something else.

 

I could not find a valid reason to argue his point of view.

 

I'm not looking for an argument,  I'd like to understand your reason behind this food supplement.

 

What give me the best return on my investment? Chickens. But, I don't look at it like that, because I need the fish to produce the fertilizer for the aquaponics system. If I were running only a hydroponics system, using no fish, I would have to provide all supplements and fertilizers the plants would need in order to grow.

 

While there are some "high" in protein vegetables, none provide as much as BSFL. The larvae are about 40% protein. Fish and chickens both, need protein, from what I understand anyway. We also feed the chickens our own concoction for their diet. We will just supplement their diet with BSFL, as we will with the fish. And, chickens will not eat everything we put in a compost bin - including excrement, if we had it. BSFL would eat even that. They do not seem to be very picky eaters. 

 

Everything we feed the fish is 100% totally free. Duckweed doesn't cost us anything. BSFL costs nothing. We feed our animals free food. The only cost we have is city water, when we use it, and electricity to run the pumps. Overhead can't get much better than that. 

 

There are benefits to having BSFL around. Once established, they will keep the house flies from producing, thereby keeping them away from us and the house. BSF are not interested in our food, as flies. They will keep away from us, rather than being irritating pests in the house, landing on food and drinks. The compost left in the bin can also be used for other plants and such.

 

Once the colonies have been established, we can basically have one compost bin set up without milk jugs. The larvae can just drop on the ground in the chicken house, or nearby. It will be like having a PEZ dispenser for chickens. They will have a constant flow of snacks crawling out of the bin.

 

Depending on how things go at the farm, we could also build another composting bin near the pond. It could "dispense" larvae as well, directly into the pond for the fish. 

 

I estimate our living expenses to drop over $700 USD / month, when we are able to finally relocate to the farm. That would be a nice amount to leave in the kitty each month. This includes a 33% drop in monthly power costs. As much as a 66% decrease in the power bill, by using one service drop we have at the farm. (If we stay under X kWh's on another service line out there (they allow up to three service drops per property), the rate is only 400r ($.10¢ US) per kWh. I'm not sure what that number actually is, though.)

Edited by Paul
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scoffer

Thanks for your well written reply,  you mentioned that the BSFL would eat excrement if it was available -, 

Some thought needs to go into that as you have animal waste as well as human waste to consider as a possible food source.   

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Parrothead

Thanks for your well written reply,  you mentioned that the BSFL would eat excrement if it was available -, 

Some thought needs to go into that as you have animal waste as well as human waste to consider as a possible food source.   

 

Certainly a possibility, especially on a farm. However, not my personal first choice. :D

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jimmyboy

presumably the moat is to keep ants out of the bin?

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Parrothead

presumably the moat is to keep ants out of the bin?

 

And other crawling critters.

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