BSF- AP'ers are so far ahead of the rest of the world

[Bob Terrell]

The reports of my death have been really overblown.  I have to admit, it was close.  Am home from the extended stay in the hospital after the surgeries.  Again the doctor's comment is that I am just too mean to die.  So, any way, was surfing trying to catch up and saw this on the collection of Black Soldier Flies.  To me it is amazing that others are just finding some of the things we have known for a long time.

http://www.kunger.at/161540/1591397/overview/farm-432-insect-breeding

Not that I want to eat these but my fish might.  Even more it might give you more ideas on how to build a BSF harvester.

Enjoy

Bob Terrell

[Pat James]

I have eaten crickets and would eat mealworms depending on what they were raised on and how they were purged. Not so enthusiastic about BSF larvae as they seem to prefer some pretty funky stuff..

That being said, once they are grown, they can be transferred  to a cleaner food and then  purged. Biggest problem is the separation process.  Getting enough to migrate into a collection container when they are in their prime, not just when they are looking for a place to pupate.

[Alex Veidel]

Yessir Bob, good things come to those who are willing to blow $50 on 1,000 maggots three times in a row :D Not to mention the cost of the biopod. After getting it in the mail, I realized I could have just made my own, it's so simple. Sigh.

Well, still a while away from that teeming pod full of larva, here's hoping for the best!

[Bob Terrell]

Alex, good thungs come to those who wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and throw a hissie fit, and wait, and wait

[Alex Veidel]

I've been thinking about the idea of using insects as food for humans. Seems like a valid concept. I, for one, have never been intimated by the "ick" factor of anything as far as the concept of food. It only grosses me out if the food is disgusting in reality. Insects as nutrition is something I might be exploring more in depth in the future.

There's a TED lecture on the subject (about 20min.) that I was listening to the other day. Here's a link:

http://www.ted.com/talks/marcel_dicke_why_not_eat_insects.html

If anyone is not familiar with TED, check it out. It's a website/conference that collects lectures on innovative or inspiring ideas. There's a few good ones in the agriculture section worth checking out. Go to "talks", then on the left side click on "view all topics".

Oh, and I finally got some juvenile BSF larva to appear in my system! Good thing, because this was my last time trying after 2 other failed attempts to start a colony.

[Bob Terrell]

There are some video's on the link to watch.  Thanks, also my friend.

[Alex Veidel]

I'm really glad you didn't die Bob.

This is a cool setup.. Are the soldier flies contained in the system?

[Greg Sarmas]

I love how clean and shiny the picture of the harvester look!  I too am not sure that I'd eat them unless in a true survival situation.  Either way, it is a good thing that the BSF's are becoming a more mainstream idea, and insect rearing in general is an accepted form of closed loop fish production.  I'm not sure how the price of pellets would be impacted if we saw $200 a barrel oil in the future?  Cool link, thanks for posting.

Greg Sarmas

[George]

Farm 432 looks great, and expensive.  I didn't find one for sale but there are lots of  articles about it. It might be just the thing for cultivating BSF indoors during the winter or in cooler climates where they aren't normally found.

[George]

I'm glad you're better.  BSF are going better than ever this year at our place.  We use a Biopod.  They love coffee grounds, which I tend to have plenty of.  They'll also eat most vegetable scraps.  Check this link.

http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/

[Tim Day]

Very cool design!