BSFL (Black Soldier Fly Larvae)

[Adam Shivers]

Why is it that I don't see as much raving about Black Soldier Fly Larvae on here as I do with the rest of the net? Maybe it's just me. I am looking for help as I have started keeping them before but I am out of the garden zone or just on the cusp. Can this zone be influence by us? I have seen some greenhouse operations but is this the only way to keep them in colder areas? I was interested in these for my chickens before I was into aquaponics and I have even had someone ask me if they could be a fuel source because of their dryness yet high oil content. Ideas? Answers welcome.

[TCLynx]

People have raved about them in connection with aquaponics.  However, like with worms, to raise huge numbers of them takes space, work and feed for them.

 

And probably most of this country is a bit too cold for them to populate naturally so you would have to buy initial stock to see if you can keep them going in a greenhouse environment.

 

One of the reasons they are not as highly prized as one might expect for fish culture is yes, they are high in fat, too high to be fed to fish as the sole food (same goes for worms)  Some people have taken to rendering the BSF larva and/or worms to get a lower fat protein meal for use as a feed supplement (instead of fish meal) but I don't know too many people who really want to put that much work into making their own fish feed and not too many significant others who will allow the kitchen to be used for boiling down worms and grubs to feed the fish if you know what I mean.

 

Perhaps they could be used for fuel but I don't know that they are truly that dry, you would need to collect them before they pupate and kill them before they can pupate to use them for fuel, some how I think it might be easier to dry the garbage and burn that as fuel rather than feeding it to the grubs first.

 

We raise worms and BSF larva, I got my Bio Pod from the Aquaponic Source.  The chickens and ducks love the larva.

[Adam Shivers]

yes the grubs would be taken care of by my chickens. I wonder if my quail and doves would like them.

TCLynx said:

People have raved about them in connection with aquaponics.  However, like with worms, to raise huge numbers of them takes space, work and feed for them.

 

And probably most of this country is a bit too cold for them to populate naturally so you would have to buy initial stock to see if you can keep them going in a greenhouse environment.

 

One of the reasons they are not as highly prized as one might expect for fish culture is yes, they are high in fat, too high to be fed to fish as the sole food (same goes for worms)  Some people have taken to rendering the BSF larva and/or worms to get a lower fat protein meal for use as a feed supplement (instead of fish meal) but I don't know too many people who really want to put that much work into making their own fish feed and not too many significant others who will allow the kitchen to be used for boiling down worms and grubs to feed the fish if you know what I mean.

 

Perhaps they could be used for fuel but I don't know that they are truly that dry, you would need to collect them before they pupate and kill them before they can pupate to use them for fuel, some how I think it might be easier to dry the garbage and burn that as fuel rather than feeding it to the grubs first.

 

We raise worms and BSF larva, I got my Bio Pod from the Aquaponic Source.  The chickens and ducks love the larva.