Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well, I did not see any BSF larva in my BSF Harvester, so I kinda forgot about it and started feeding table scraps to my chickens. Well, yesterday I checked on the BSF Harvester and it was FULL of big fat larva. They were almost through with the scraps, so I need to add some more. Oh and by the way, there were quite a few larva in the plastic jug, so they did climp up th encline and fall into the jug.

By the way if you run low on compost feed to feed them they will eat some "fresh green lawn clippings and juicy weeds like thistle they love.

Thanks! Great tip!

Great BSF container, I just shelled out $275 for one of the Bio Pods which I still cant get any BSF into yet after 3 weeks!!! Just looked around the garage and there are several containers like that kicking around that I could have used, damm it.
Can you use meat scraps for BSF or will you just attract blow flys ect

are blowfly larvae no good for fish?

best way to get blowie larvae is to leave out a skin you were planning on curing and forgot. Make sure it's folded once, bloody side in.
then just unfold and scoop on a regular basis.

they are great if they are clean, you can put them through a bit of bran to clean them up before adding to the fish tank.

Soldier Flys and their larva put off a chemical odor that keeps them coming. If you can get a few in it the flys will come and lay. Even if you don't they will eventually will find it. But as the temps cool they get less and less active. That bio pod is real nice. Once they get established you will be glad you have it.

Oh and to answer the question about meat scraps. Yes they will attract blow flys but in a well established system blow flys won't lay in among BSF larva, because of the chemical signal of the BSF larva, so the BSF larva will consume the meat quickly. Since I have found BSF larva in my rabbit manure, I may add that sometimes to the composter.

Just a note about DE. Yes DE can work but it is not as perfect and instant against ants as the advertising trys to say.

DE is not so effective if it gets wet or if there is plenty of moisture in the environment. I've used DE on my grow beds where ants were farming aphids on my pepper plants. It didn't bother the ants much at all.

A small stand for the harvester with legs that can sit in containers of mineral oil or water will be far more effective at keeping ants out of a bin providing you can get the ants out in the first place.

do the BSF larve turn white? because I looked in the BSF Larva Harvester today and there were several LARGE white larve climbing up tp my jug. They were about an inch long and a 1/4 ince in diameter. Pretty freekin big!

There are different shades between types of the larva, but I dont know about white. If they have the same body type then they must be. Someone said BSF will eat or out compete all other larva.

I have just successfully got a Bio Pod going with the BSF, and at first when I looked in to the pod I thought, " geeze, they are mega big blow fly maggot's " . Big white maggot's, but they made it to the catchment in a darker colour.
Along with a heap of smaller guys.

So Yes, the BSF in my area, before they are ready to harvest are white.

The bin smelled of ammonia though. Looking forward to diluting that juice for the dirt garden

When BSF larva are young they are white. They darken just before leaving the pile to find a clean place to pupate.

well, if it looks like a BSF Larva, acts like a BSF Larva and stinks like a BSF larvs, then it must be a BSF Larva!

Also from what I have been reading the BSF larva do not get everything out the compost and earth worms like the 2nd run!
I've never tried it. Never had the right worms and fighting ants. I'm wanting to try again though.