Unlike most other flies, BSF adults do not go into houses, they do not have functional mouth parts, they do not eat, they do not regurgitate on human food, and therefore, they are not associated in any way with the transmission of disease. Adults do not bite, bother or annoy humans. Their activity is limited solely to mating and egg-laying. Note that it is only the females that visit waste, not the males, since males do not lay eggs. When females visit waste to lay eggs, they never actually come into contact with the the waste. They lay their eggs above or to the side, never on, otherwise they run the risk of their eggs being eaten along with the waste.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I've seen them lading and laying eggs in the waste.
Hi, any recommendations or potential problems with using Black Soldier fly larvae to break down dog feces? My thought was to take what remains after the larvae are through and throw it in the compost or worm bin, and then use it in the yard as soil amendment.
Recently getting educated about BSF after finding fat larvae in my first compost. I am retraining my brain that they are good, however, I am ready to use the compost in my veggie garden. Now what? Do I have to pick them out one by one (not gonna happen!)? I don't really want to see these fat things near my food. Will they die automatically outside their compost haven? Will flocks of birds take care of them for me? What comes next? THANKS!
It is totally fine to leave them in the compost your spread. Some will be eaten by birds and squirrels, others with find the warm compost a safe haven for overwintering, so that their life cycle can continue in the spring. They do not like bright light; chances are you will not see them for very long in your garden, once you place the compost.
Thanks for the great news. Ready to use my good compost dirt. :)
I had the exact question! I too, accidently came upon BSFL in my compost bin...I had added many wild mushrooms to my compost pile, and recall seeing the BSF on the mushrooms. Who knew! So now.....I am considering rolling with it....making a BSFL bin! LOL!
RE: DOG FECES: BSF grubs will eat feces from most mammals; the preference is carnivores and omnivores over herbivores. Because you run the risk of remnant poop pathogens in the undigested residue-compost mixture, I would personally not use the finished material directly on any garden edibles. Ornamentals, turf, olives, grapes, orchards, berry patches and the like should be fine. Feeding the processed waste to redworms is fine, especially from herbivores. If you are going to use the finished compost from your compost bin directly on garden edibles like salad greens, I would not add the left over residue to my compost pile. Always take the precautionary approach - pathogens from poop are no joke!
Post a Comment