BSF - Hermetia illucens

Comment by RJ_Hythloday on August 15, 2008 at 2:58pm

I dug out a bin for the critters, I will leave a few in my worm bin but figure if I can't beat 'em might as well join 'em. I had a small bin w/ a broken bottom, so I cut the bottom out to let them have access to their native soil. I'm not going to use a lid, but a piece of drift wood to keep out light and easier access to put the pooper scooper in. They'll also get table scraps when their is meat involved that I wouldn't scrap in the worms precompost bucket.

It's raining now, so I'll hold off till tomorrow to move 'em from the worm bin to their new home next to it. I figure they'll have a chance to get out and breed w/ this set up and keep it populated as long as their getting a food supply.

Comment by RJ_Hythloday on August 16, 2008 at 9:21am

Added some torn up cardboard, made a loose fitting lid to keep rain fall from flooding(hopefully) and added handfuls of bedding from the worm bin that were full of bsf. There were two adults in the bin, I helped them out and put them on top of the new bin area, hopefully they'll lay some eggs their. If this works I'll be very happy w/ what was a surprising discovery. I saw their pic on some grub bait and probably would have bought it for the lawn if it had been cheaper.

Comment by RJ_Hythloday on August 17, 2008 at 4:46am

Here's some pics of the bin. I'll add another later when there's taking care of the dogdoo.

The bins here under the drift wood.

Just for comparison, here's the waste after 10 minutes

Comment by RJ_Hythloday on August 17, 2008 at 4:49am

The bin behind the bale is planted. My worms are back left corner just in front of the firewood. The bit of wood panel coming out from under the drift wood is the self cleaning greenpooper scooper. The logs on the wall get pulled out for seats by the fire pit. In front are sunflowers to provide shade for the salad planted in the bale.

Comment by RJ_Hythloday on August 18, 2008 at 12:31pm

Thanks Dwayne,

Update, the dog doo seems to just be sitting. I've poked around w/ a stick a bit. All the food I gave them the first day is gone, I don't see any left. I don't want to dig around too much. Perhaps w/ the new digs they decided to hatch and fly away. There's no smell so I'll let it sit for a while and not add any more to see if they come back or bury it if it becomes infested w/ houseflies.

I fed the wb today and there's still a ton of bsf in there. Another adult was waiting to be released. They really can't fly at first I just grabbed it and placed it near the doo, hopefully it'll lay some eggs there.

I wonder if the open bottom was a problem in the new bsf bin or I just didn't simulate the conditions close enough. I might harvest some more bsf out of wb and see if they stick around. Maybe a closed container from the dollar store w/ a few air holes would make conditions closer to the wb.

Comment by RJ_Hythloday on August 19, 2008 at 1:36am

I'm still seeing plenty in the wb, for the transplant I just grabbed gloved handfuls of bedding that contained bsf. I thought it would've kept them happy but I think the conditions just weren't right.

I hope I didn't have too many cocoons in the handfuls of bedding. I'm finally starting to see some in the wb.

Comment by D S Foxx on December 1, 2008 at 3:54pm

Last adult BSF sighting here in Austin: Nov. 30. My colony's been moved to winter quarters, styrofoam coolers with leaching pads.

Comment by Jenny on December 8, 2008 at 11:06pm

I thought my red worm bins were becoming rather wet and then noticed lots and lots of white fluffy stuff as well as many cream coloured larvae. Last week I thought I saw them moving but today they seem dormant. When I prod them, they are soft and seem to move very slightly. From what I have read, they have their advantages but please can someone tell me all the advantages (and disadvantages) of having them in my worm bin. At this stage, my worms are my priority so I don't want an over abundance of BSF to adversely affect my worms. If I keep them in my bins, are there any extra precautions I have to take to protect my worms?
Many thanks

Comment by D S Foxx on December 9, 2008 at 8:25am

Jenny--welcome!

Short answer: worms and BSFL don't make great roommates, though a couple of grubs in a bin aren't a problem. Longer reply in new discussion.

Comment by ssgh on December 23, 2008 at 10:11am

HI:
My name is s.s.Ghazi..a persian vet .I,m very interesting to proliferate the bsf . but we have not this fly in my country.IRAN.would you please help me to have few pupae to multiply them?
regards
ss.ghazi
ssgh261@gmail

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