Comments on: BioPod Log-waste in-grubs out

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:10:09 +0000

Hi Bill,

I’m glad you’re rich in BSF this year.

I’m not sure where to send you for a BioPod Plus, the original BioPods that I previously sold aren’t available in the U.S.

By: Bill Miller

Bill Miller — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:37:11 +0000

Oh, Jerry, where can one buy a bio pod now?

By: Bill Miller

Bill Miller — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:35:29 +0000

I am rolling in larvae this year. I moved my larvae/worm box into my new chicken yard that is totally enclosed and the larvae go to the ground and help feed the 30 chickens in there. The problem this year is getting my family to understand that all scraps go into the scrap bucket for the larvae. And there is no need to keep the larvae and worms separated because the larvae make the food for the worms. You just need a large enough box or what have you so that the worms can keep lower for lower temps. and the larvae can stay up top constantly eating.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:00:05 +0000

Hi Jim,

I’m not selling any BioPods at this time. Even when I was a dealer it was very difficult to sell a large BioPod (ProtaPod) due to the very high shipping cost.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:57:42 +0000

Do you sell the large Biopod??

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:50:14 +0000

Brian your weather isn’t in the ideal range for BSF activity but we know it’s in the acceptable range. Thanks for reporting the sightings. Those adult BSF you’re seeing must be mating and laying eggs somewhere. If I were you I would keep an eye on the egg disc in your BioPod. BSF sometimes scatter eggs instead of laying in one spot. In that case you won’t know the eggs are there until 2-3 weeks later when the larvae become visible. Even at 3 weeks it’s hard to see the larvae in a waste pile.

I have noticed some fruit flies lately when I open the biopod. That was surprising, seeing as the biopod has an active BSF population going, but it leads me to wonder whether the pheromes that tend to keep other flies away are caused more by the young, growing larvae than by the old, nearly ready to pupate larvae.

I wonder if a lower level of activity in your BioPod is contributing to the presence of fruit flies. If you’ve had to reduce the volume of waste you’re processing it might result in less pheromones.

Thanks for the updates.

By: Brian Travis

Brian Travis — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:57:36 +0000

Jerry, it was sunny on the days I saw the mature flies, and temps were probably in the mid 70′s. Our average highs this time of year are normally in the low 80′s but we have seen only a few days that topped 80 during March.

I have noticed that the big crawl-offs of mature larvae seem to occur when we have warm, rainy days.

I did experience some crawl out of mature larvae throughout the winter, but the rate has definitely picked up during March. I bet I have 2 gallons of mature larvae in my bait freezer in the garage!

Have not seen any egg-laying yet this year. My biopod is still chock full of larvae and I continue to feed sparingly, so maybe that’s the reason. No young larve either – all uniformly mature. I have noticed some fruit flies lately when I open the biopod. That was surprising, seeing as the biopod has an active BSF population going, but it leads me to wonder whether the pheromes that tend to keep other flies away are caused more by the young, growing larvae than by the old, nearly ready to pupate larvae.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:48:29 +0000

Hi Brian, good to hear from you.

What have the high temps been in your area when you saw the BSF adults? Was it sunny when you saw them?

By: Brian Travis

Brian Travis — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:33:08 +0000

Have seen a number of mature BSF within the past few weeks here in southwest Florida – despite the fact that our temps have been WAY below normal for this time of year.

My mature BSF larvae that overwintered are self-harvesting rapidly now too. Had nearly 3/4 bucketful crawl out of my Biopod one day last week and land in the harvesting bucket!

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:41:03 +0000

Hi Bill,

You just reminded me that I need to input several weeks of data to complete this study. Someday soon I hope…

Honestly I don’t know if there is a magical temperature for mating or the emergence of adults. BSF are found in such a wide variety of climates, for example the equator and British Columbia, and I’m not sure that one temp would “fit all”. I live in south Georgia and typically see emergence (and therefore mating) in mid April. Here the average high in April is 80º, average low is 53º, and average mean temp is 67º. In addition the weather in April is usually sunny with low precipitation which may be a factor.

I would love to know when you see BSF.