Comments on: About This Blog http://blacksoldierflyblog.com Bio-Composting with Black Soldier Fly larvae - Fascinating, Responsible and Rewarding Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:35:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jerry http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-935 Jerry Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:16:23 +0000 http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/?page_id=67#comment-935 Hi Rebecca, I'm not really sure about the best way to use the BSF residue. I have a batch that I finished with redworms, but I haven't gotten around to using it. I'd love to hear what you do with yours. Hi Rebecca,

I’m not really sure about the best way to use the BSF residue. I have a batch that I finished with redworms, but I haven’t gotten around to using it. I’d love to hear what you do with yours.

]]> By: Rebecca http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-933 Rebecca Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:02:08 +0000 http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/?page_id=67#comment-933 Hi Jerry, I recently tried vermicomposting and, though I think the heat killed all the redworms I put in (we dug around and couldn't find one...), our bin is very alive with BSF larvae. After reading up some on this, I'm really happy about it. What I am wondering is, can we use the compost left by the BSF, or does it need any additional processing? Thanks! Hi Jerry,
I recently tried vermicomposting and, though I think the heat killed all the redworms I put in (we dug around and couldn’t find one…), our bin is very alive with BSF larvae. After reading up some on this, I’m really happy about it. What I am wondering is, can we use the compost left by the BSF, or does it need any additional processing?
Thanks!

]]> By: Jerry http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-813 Jerry Thu, 06 May 2010 14:07:02 +0000 http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/?page_id=67#comment-813 Hi Lindsey, If you have BSF larvae in your compost buckets they will crawl away when they mature (dark brown color) in search of a safe dry place to pupate. If there is even a slight gap under your closed doors they may be entering that way. Seeing the adult BSF in the room would not lead to there being larvae there unless the adults found food waste to lay their eggs on, and then it would take about a month of the larvae feeding on it to develop. For that reason I think they're simply crawling in under your doors. <blockquote>I am a little concerned as I don’t want these larvae inside the house as you can probably imagine.</blockquote> Yes and no; I understand that people worry about fly larvae, but there is no more risk from having a BSF larvae in your house than there would be if a butterfly flew in. If I saw a BSF larvae in my house I would simply pick it up and place it outside so it could pupate and continue the important role that BSF fulfill in nature. Wash your hands afterward just as you would if you petted a strange dog. All stages of black soldier flies are harmless. They can't bite or sting and they aren't vectors of human disease. Now for the good part; You have BSF, you have buckets full of compost, you can easily enjoy utilizing your BSF in the most rapid and productive form of composting I know of. With amazing speed the BSF will process meats (in limited quantities) dairy, fats and virtually anything that you eat. Done properly there is almost no odor and if you have children they will learn an important lesson about our relationship with the natural world. :) Please let me know if you need further advice. Hi Lindsey,

If you have BSF larvae in your compost buckets they will crawl away when they mature (dark brown color) in search of a safe dry place to pupate. If there is even a slight gap under your closed doors they may be entering that way. Seeing the adult BSF in the room would not lead to there being larvae there unless the adults found food waste to lay their eggs on, and then it would take about a month of the larvae feeding on it to develop. For that reason I think they’re simply crawling in under your doors.

I am a little concerned as I don’t want these larvae inside the house as you can probably imagine.

Yes and no; I understand that people worry about fly larvae, but there is no more risk from having a BSF larvae in your house than there would be if a butterfly flew in. If I saw a BSF larvae in my house I would simply pick it up and place it outside so it could pupate and continue the important role that BSF fulfill in nature. Wash your hands afterward just as you would if you petted a strange dog. All stages of black soldier flies are harmless. They can’t bite or sting and they aren’t vectors of human disease.

Now for the good part; You have BSF, you have buckets full of compost, you can easily enjoy utilizing your BSF in the most rapid and productive form of composting I know of. With amazing speed the BSF will process meats (in limited quantities) dairy, fats and virtually anything that you eat. Done properly there is almost no odor and if you have children they will learn an important lesson about our relationship with the natural world. :)

Please let me know if you need further advice.

]]> By: Lindsey http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-812 Lindsey Thu, 06 May 2010 13:24:44 +0000 http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/?page_id=67#comment-812 Hi, I'm just learning about black soldier flies (never heard of them before) because I continue to find the larvae crawling in my sun room. We have several compost buckets outside the sun room but we do not leave the doors open. I am a little concerned as I don't want these larvae inside the house as you can probably imagine. I realize they are beneficial but do you have any idea why/how they are getting inside? I have yet to see an adult black soldier fly inside, and I only find the larvae in our sunroom, which was a recent addition to the back of our house. Thanks for your help! Hi, I’m just learning about black soldier flies (never heard of them before) because I continue to find the larvae crawling in my sun room. We have several compost buckets outside the sun room but we do not leave the doors open. I am a little concerned as I don’t want these larvae inside the house as you can probably imagine. I realize they are beneficial but do you have any idea why/how they are getting inside? I have yet to see an adult black soldier fly inside, and I only find the larvae in our sunroom, which was a recent addition to the back of our house. Thanks for your help!

]]> By: Rob Lang http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-632 Rob Lang Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:36:08 +0000 http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/?page_id=67#comment-632 I would like to see a set-up Biopod in my area(Sacramento,CA) realizing as cold as it's been here in the Valley lately, there's likely not much activity. I still want to see one. I work at the Sac Nat Foods Co-op and am trying to get interest up in starting one up to replace our lost Vermicompost bin(critters you don't want around food serving got in the bin) I would like to see a set-up Biopod in my area(Sacramento,CA) realizing as cold as it’s been here in the Valley lately, there’s likely not much activity. I still want to see one. I work at the Sac Nat Foods Co-op and am trying to get interest up in starting one up to replace our lost Vermicompost bin(critters you don’t want around food serving got in the bin)

]]> By: Jerry http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Jerry Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:38:27 +0000 http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/?page_id=67#comment-397 Hi Mark, I sent you an email and you may send a photo to that address if you like. You also might want to register to the BioPod forum where I've started a BSF identification thread: http://thebiopod.com/forum/index.php?topic=29.0 The climate in Uganda is favorable to BSF as long as you don't live above 1500 meters of altitude. BSF are native to North America, but they've traveled around the world with human assistance. I would be surprised if they aren't in your area. Black soldier flies probably began spreading when humans started sailing around the world. With all of the valid concerns about invasive species I've never come across any statements indicating that BSF have become a problem where they have been imported. Hi Mark,

I sent you an email and you may send a photo to that address if you like. You also might want to register to the BioPod forum where I’ve started a BSF identification thread: http://thebiopod.com/forum/index.php?topic=29.0

The climate in Uganda is favorable to BSF as long as you don’t live above 1500 meters of altitude. BSF are native to North America, but they’ve traveled around the world with human assistance. I would be surprised if they aren’t in your area. Black soldier flies probably began spreading when humans started sailing around the world. With all of the valid concerns about invasive species I’ve never come across any statements indicating that BSF have become a problem where they have been imported.

]]> By: Mark http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Mark Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:05:14 +0000 http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/?page_id=67#comment-396 I began reading about BSF and composting several months ago. I live in Uganda (East Africa) and was unable to find concrete evidence (either through reading online or by attracting BSF) that they live in this area. Today I found a fly in my house that seems to match the photos I've seen posted here, so I took some pictures. Is there a place I could post them or email them to get an opinion from someone with BSF experience? If I could get confirmation I would make a more concerted effort to start a colony here. I began reading about BSF and composting several months ago. I live in Uganda (East Africa) and was unable to find concrete evidence (either through reading online or by attracting BSF) that they live in this area. Today I found a fly in my house that seems to match the photos I’ve seen posted here, so I took some pictures. Is there a place I could post them or email them to get an opinion from someone with BSF experience? If I could get confirmation I would make a more concerted effort to start a colony here.

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