We are testing some modifications to our BioPod Plus and have added tutorials to the “Tips and Tweaks” page: LINK
We will be adding more modification ideas soon. Please keep in mind that these changes have not been fully tested and that they might void your warranty.
… is another man’s treasure.
In the past I wrote a basic summary of factors involved in attracting BSF females to start up a new colony, and it remains one of the biggest challenges to people who want to culture BSF (Hermetia illucens). In this post I want to focus on one of the techniques I previously recommended because I think it has some significant advantages. I’m referring to using your household garbage cans (you might know them as “bins”) as the attractant, and then collecting the eggs for transfer to the BSF composter for hatching.
To read the entire post or to make a comment please follow the link to our forum:: LINK
This is a new black soldier fly composter design that combines both proven and unproven concepts. My hope is that the construction techniques might give you some ideas, and that the vertical drain system will be effective for more than just filtering the liquids. I chose a transparent tote because I have a theory that ultraviolet rays from indirect natural light might help control bacteria, as it does in a natural setting.
The most obvious advantage to a vertical drain is that you can access it from the top without removing the waste/castings. If a filter medium is used it could be removed for cleaning, and the perforated surface of the drain can easily be flushed with water to help address clogging. As an added potential benefit it may improve oxygenation at the lower levels of the waste, encouraging more feeding there.
To read the entire post or to make a comment please follow the link to our forum:: LINK
Attracting the initial black soldier fly (BSF) females to start up a BSF composter can be problematic if you don’t understand the basic principles involved. Of course the first step is to determine if your area is populated by BSF, but once you’re satisfied that they’re present it shouldn’t be too difficult to attract them.
Often people are successful at inoculating their composters before they even know it. It’s important to understand that it can take 2 – 4 weeks from the time that eggs are laid until you can easily see the resulting larvae or “grubs”. Sometimes you can see clutches of eggs laid in the corners or crevices of the composter or bait container, however, often the females randomly scatter their tiny eggs on the inner and outer walls of the unit. That makes it almost impossible to see them without magnification. The newly hatched larvae are also tiny so after the bait (food scrap) has been out for several days they could be present without being obvious. For that reason it’s usually not wise to throw away any existing bait and start over; you may very well be discarding recently hatched larvae. Below is a photo of a black soldier fly larva (BSFL) on the sixth day after it’s egg was laid which makes it approximately two days old. You just can’t glance at a pile of rotting food and know if these little creatures are present or not.
To read the entire post or to make a comment please follow the link to our forum:: LINK
Harvey Ussery recently authored an article titled “Black Soldier Fly, White Magic” first published in Backyard Poultry Magazine
The article in the October/November issue fills 4 pages and includes photos of a BSF adult (from this site), BSF larvae and a few of the BioPod™. I especially liked the title “Black Soldier Fly, White Magic”. In addition to my photos Harvey also used photos by Bonnie Long.
Harvey describes the basics of the BSF life cycle and how the BioPod is designed to take advantage of it. I’m happy to say that he directs his readers here for more information about this new and fascinating technology. Thank you Harvey, for a very well written article.
With Harvey’s permission I have published his article on this blog which can be found here or by clicking the link in the right hand column under Black Soldier Fly Pages.
The forum can be accessed here (forum) and you will see a link for registration in the upper left corner of the forum. The legal language on the registration form is very basic and is what came with the forum software. In short, we won’t share your information, and please don’t be vulgar or break the law. 