Black Soldier Fly and Maggots

[Dwayne]

Several months ago I opened one of my outdoor bins and to my shock I found maggots. They were intially replusive and I could not wait to find a way to get rid of them. With the help of a more experienced vermicomposter I realized that they were in fact Black Soldier Fly Maggots or BSF. I went down to the garden store and bought some benefical nematodes (microscopic larvae killers) and put them in the bin. They killed the maggots (for a while). After further research I found that they are not as bad as I thought. Like many of the critters, other than worms, in the bin they help break down organic matter for the worms. When they hatch into a fly they don't even eat and they carry no disease.
So, if you have outdoor bins you may run into these guys and you may even get accustomed to them over time.

They have been showing up in my mini-composters and have helped to pre-compost the coffee and sawdust too. The Fly does not really fly that well and they are a bit comical.

Kelly Slocum had a thread on the BSF if anyone is interested. Kelly says "
I cannot emphasize enough the benefit of these flies or their suitability for working in conjunction with earthworms!" See also this blog on BSF.

Dwayne

[James Mc]

From my internet research, I came across this very interesting site on the power of BSF larvae (AKA Phoenix Worm or Soldier Grub). This video is amazing, and shows how utilising the larvae can reduce all types of food waste, especially those not composted by worms, and apparently the BSF larvae castings can then be fed to worms (see here)

Anyway here is the video, be warned........not for the squeamish..........


James

[Dwayne]

Thanks James. I had not seen that video but had seen ones like it. Unreal huh? Luckily I have not had them in those numbers but they can out eat any worm I have seen. I understand some people raise them exclusively. Not quite as warm and fuzzy as the little redworm.

Thanks again,

Dwayne

[RJ_Hythloday]

Fed my worms today and the bsf are out of control. The corner I fed in last had no worms and lots of bsf. I don't think I can eliminate them I guess I might have to increase the food to accommodate.

[Dwayne]

That's what I do. They seem to be self-regulating. That is, I don't get so many that they take over. My worms seem to tolerate them and I have found baby EFs staying close to them. I understand that the EFs eat the BSF manure?? In any event good luck and I think it is just as easy to live with them as try to eliminate them.

Dwayne

[RJ_Hythloday]

Yep, I have picked out dead larvae, or maybe it's casings after the fly hatches? I've only seen one adult and it could barely fly, my son found it on the sidewalk after I evicted it and he thought he had squished a wasp.

I plan on having some backyard egg layin' chickens when I move, so if I have BSF then, they'll be chicken feed for sure.

[RJ_Hythloday]

Found some more good ones

Keeping bsf warm

SanFranGate

Vermi Group

I won't be doing anything to propagate these buggers, but if they are still around when I move they'll be free chicken feed.

the SFgate article says they take care of meat? I'll be having a dog poop digester when I move also, I think they may find a place in that bin as well.

The wierd thing is I've only seen one adult in the bin, I think I've seen a few in the garden. I think the one I saw may have grown out of larvae? I've also seen alot of casings, I kind of thought they died but maybe they leave it behind when they mature?

[Dwayne]

Some articles suggest they won't hatch in a bin. I have had probably 10 hatch into adult flies like you see in the photos. They don't fly well and are kind of dumb acting. I have been throwing some of the maggots to my koi and I do understand that the birds and chickens love them. Good luck.

Dwayne

[RJ_Hythloday]

After seeing this about plastic bags in another post I decided I need to eliminate the plastic bags I use for dog poop and make a new small bin to transplant the bsf to just for doggie waste. I think I'll get it done today or tomorrow.

[Bill C]

I have the BSF maggots in my bins outside. I had taken most of them out by leaving in large zuccini squash and they pile inside and then I remove it to a compost bin to keep feeding them there. I never get rid of them all and a few ( 50 to 80 ) dont seem to hurt the worms. I do have them hatch out from the bins and when I lift off the lid, I have 10 ot 15 a day right now flying away. Some fly good and some probably didnt get their wings dried out enough after hatching that they fly like a hellicopter pilot in trouble. But the ones I see around the compost pile fly very fast like a flash of lightning, zipping by my face and before I can hardly identify them they soom by again. I think they gain speed after they get some sum light or something like that. As for those that hatch out of the worm bins mabye they are just malnurished from all those vegetables and no rotting meat (protien) in my bins. Either way I used to hate them and now I just find them a place where they can be happy with out over running the bins. Bill C

[RJ_Hythloday]

I've seen one adult a week ago, and yesterday I released 2 adults. Like you I've put mine to work. The wife's family's gone vegetarian so they are getting dog waste. When it get's cold I plan to harvest them and insulate them through the winter and take 'em w/ me when I move.

I've started a group here.

[Dwayne]

Good luck. Dwayne

[Dwayne]

Bill and RJ

Looks like we are all treating the BSFs alike. Leave them alone, let them do their work as organic composters and let nature take it course. Thanks for the comments. RJ, I have heard of folks using BSF and worms to compost dog wastes. I have not done that. It will be interesting to see how that works for you.

Dwayne