By the way, do you know of any humans eating the larvae…anywhere in the world, that is? People eat everything else. Someone’s got to be eating this, too!
Thanks again.

The same is true in the southeastern US where I live, except for the coconuts. Here it is more about corn, but the idea is the same.

BSF mate while in flight and the space you are providing them is not large enough. I have read that the space should be a minimum of 3m X 3m. It is also best if they have much natural sunlight and also to keep the environment warm.

Optimum for Mating: “Adults typically mated and oviposited at temperatures of 24 C (75.2 F) up to 40 C (104 F) or more. Booth and Sheppard (1984) reported that 99.6% of oviposition in the field occurred at 27.5 C to 37.5 C (81.5 F to 99.5 f)” (10).

(The information above was found at BioSystem Design)

I have never raised BSF in any type of enclosure. I live in a place with an indigenous BSF population and I’m happy to let mating occur naturally in the wild.

Good luck!

I didn’t mean to ignore your question from so long ago, I thought I had typed a reply but I guess I didn’t…

“I guess my main use for them is the improvement of container soil. But do you think that vermiculture is best for that…as worms leave more soil amendment in terms of volume?”

Short answer; yes, worms are best for producing large amounts of soil amendment. BSF shine in their usefulness to drastically reduced the volume of waste and as a high quality feed for animals (and in theory, people )

“Another issue… my bin is in the sun. Can I take the galvanized metal from over the container and let sun and rain hit it?”

In terms of temperatures, you can do anything as long as the colony remains in a safe range. In some northern areas I’m suggesting that people keep their units in the sun because of overall cool conditions. A good example of this is Seattle and Vancouver. In the summer in the southern US it would probably cause the BSF to crawl away. BSF can survive up to 115º F (46 C) so it’s best to aim for 100º (38 C) or lower.

“This particular container is too heavy for me to move into the shade. How should I maintain it as far as coverings are concerned?”

It’s hard for me to say and I think you might need to experiment. Each container and situation is unique. Rain itself won’t harm the colony, but you must have good drainage in any BSF colony. One factor with rain/humidity is that BSF can scale a vertical surface if condensation is present. Part of maintaining a dense colony is containing the larvae and if your unit allows them to easily escape you will not reach a very and consistent efficiency level.

I guess my main use for them is the improvement of container soil. But do you think that vermiculture is best for that…as worms leave more soil amendment in terms of volume?

Another issue… my bin is in the sun. Can I take the galvanized metal from over the container and let sun and rain hit it? I have the original top for this cow feed container also and can use that if necessary. I was afraid the larvae would get too hot if I put this top on. This particular container is too heavy for me to move into the shade. How should I maintain it as far as coverings are concerned?

It’s very possible I’m wrong about your case, but that’s the best assessment I can make from a distance. I would be interested in a temperature reading if you’re inclined to take a measurement.

For the record; the nutritional data I’ve seen on BSF puts the protein/fat at 42/35% for dried larvae and 17/9% for fresh larvae. Insects and insect larvae are consumed on a daily basis around the world, and an objective person wouldn’t have an issue eating them. It’s true that BSF larvae are scavengers but so are shrimp, lobsters, and some of the fish we eat. If you’ve ever eaten “peel and eat” shrimp you’ve eaten a scavenger, and probably also the contents of it’s digestive tract (shrimp poo). Our bodies can easily process items that our minds cannot. It’s difficult to imagine eating a larva that was raised on a diet of manure, but what if it had been raised on fresh grains or fruit and under sanitary conditions? In that case the only issue left would be cultural. If you raised BSF on pineapple and then dipped them in chocolate I think you’d have real crowd pleaser (if they didn’t know what they were eating).

Thanks for the larvae-pupae difference. I am really hurting for vocabulary as I am new in the bsf world.

A question about practical use. I am maintaining these bugs out of fascination. Secondarily they are probably doing something for the soil in my cow feed container. I do some container growing in the summer. I also do not fish or have any fish or chickens.

So here is a strange question. I read that the larvae are about 60% protein, 40 % fat and bacteriostatic. Do you know of any instances in the world of human consumption? I am not personally ready to eat bugs, but have thought about it…well, hypothetically. I have an interest in wild edible plants, etc. I had a student from Liberia who told me she ate a species of termite there.

For me, what do you think the practical potential for these larvae would be? Many thanks.