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Joined: Aug 2017
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OP
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Anyone here interested in trying this? I have an ongoing research project where we are making feeds where a big part of the ingredients is beetle biomass. We have a mass collection method that works and are developing a work around relating to storages problems with the biomass. I am doing this to work with hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of beetle biomass.
Effort here is working mostly with bluegill and likely black bass (Largemouth, Spotted and Smallmouth) that are legal for me to culture. I have been posting on process with a chicken site and gotten a lot of interest there.
Aquaculture
Cooperative Research / Extension
Lincoln University of Missouri
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Joined: Oct 2015
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Joined: Oct 2015
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Jim, I don't know about using beetle parts in feed, but I tried feeding my BG whole live Japanese Beetles last summer, and they didn't like them much. Grasshoppers and crickets were much preferred over the beetles.
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Joined: Aug 2017
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Mine eat them live OK. Grinding them up is a game changer.
Aquaculture
Cooperative Research / Extension
Lincoln University of Missouri
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My fish love them alive. BG, HBG, PS and YP all go after them when I toss them in.
From a growth, nutrition and/or cost perspective, does the beetle chow have an advantage over a good pellet currently on the market?
Last edited by Bill D.; 03/09/18 11:57 AM.
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Joined: May 2013
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I'm all ears on how to attract, grow, or culture beetles as a food source.
Also how do we grind up Japanese Beetles and more importantly how do you trap them? I guess if it was easy no one would have a Jap Beetle problem?
I also saw a link on a bluegill site where someone shared how awesome the catalpa worm can be for bait when fishing for panfish.
Since caterpillars can be a blight (tent worms for example) and probably can reproduce as fast as beetles, maybe there is a way to grow catalpa worms on a large scale indoors?
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Joined: Aug 2017
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First look into mass trapping method a co-worker developed (see link below). Intent was to protect high value crops, but beetle trap rate was so high that finding use for biomass became an issue. Composting and incineration are low to no return approaches. https://ipm.missouri.edu/IPCM/2018/1/mass_trapping_japanese_beetles/
Last edited by Jim Wetzel; 03/09/18 02:11 PM.
Aquaculture
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Lincoln University of Missouri
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Joined: May 2013
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Joined: May 2013
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And how did you find a way to effectively and easily grind up hundreds of pounds of beetles?
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I did not answer that for a reason as need more time for a PC approach. To be straightforward, grinding may not need be a discrete step from making the pellets. Do you have the ability to make sausage?
Aquaculture
Cooperative Research / Extension
Lincoln University of Missouri
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Joined: May 2013
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Joined: May 2013
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yup, but no ability to make pellets
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Joined: May 2013
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Joined: May 2013
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I would also have to have a way to source J Beetle pheromones and 'floral scent' 
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Meat grinders I have been using produce strings like with hamburger, then you break them off as they come out and place whole mess on a surface with good airflow. As mess dries the strings break readily into pellets. They even float.
This site is challenging me when it comes to pictures and videos so I will be a little slow describing procedure with those but will get it done.
Pheromones are the same you buy at Lowes or other lawn and garden outlets.
Aquaculture
Cooperative Research / Extension
Lincoln University of Missouri
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Jim, I am not sure what you are asking when you say..."Anyone here interested in trying this?"
If you are asking if I want to process your beetles? I'm going to say "No". But, I do plan on making a couple floating beetle traps to help my pond take on the nuisance Japanese beetles as a food source this year.
If you are asking if I would feed my soon to be stocked fish the beetle pellets? I'm up for that, so "Yes".
IF you are asking if I am willing to eat the beetle pellets myself? Then I have to say "NO WAY"...lol
Fish on!, Noel 
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Firstly, the pellets do not taste all that bad once dried. They taste a bit like dried krill which I do like. Secondly, the pelletized beetles can be stored for use well beyond the plague season.
Aquaculture
Cooperative Research / Extension
Lincoln University of Missouri
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Jim,
What do you need from us? I assume you want to track some metrics. Do want this to be the exclusive feed?
I kinda like the idea of a version of the sock trap that drops the live critters into the pond instead of capturing them. Perhaps with secondary pheromone "flavors" for June bugs or other seasonal pests.
Last edited by Vortex 4; 03/09/18 08:14 PM.
4 acre pond 32 ft deep within East Texas (Livingston) timber ranch. Filled (to the top of an almost finished dam) by Hurricane Harvey 9/17. Stocked with FHM, CNBG, RES 10/17. Added 35lbs RSC 3/18. 400 N LMB fingerlings 6/18
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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
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Wonder if a cheap solar yard light in the center of a baffle with a sock going into the water would capture many insects and deliver them to the fish?
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Joined: Oct 2015
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Joined: Oct 2015
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Those commercial beetle traps are like a big yellow sock and fill up almost daily in a good year for beetles. When I lived in town, a next door neighbor had a couple of traps in his garden, and they would get heavy with beetles. Bad stink too if he didn't empty them almost daily. One could probably be configured to empty into the water somehow.
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Joined: Jun 2016
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Joined: Jun 2016
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Fish on!, Noel
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Joined: Nov 2009
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Fingerling
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Fingerling
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Traps I use provide catch rate the fish cannot keep up with.
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Joined: Oct 2015
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Joined: Oct 2015
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Traps I use provide catch rate the fish cannot keep up with. That sounds impossible, given a big enough bluegill population.
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent  Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2006
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Anyone here interested in trying this? I have an ongoing research project where we are making feeds where a big part of the ingredients is beetle biomass. We have a mass collection method that works and are developing a work around relating to storages problems with the biomass. I am doing this to work with hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of beetle biomass.
Effort here is working mostly with bluegill and likely black bass (Largemouth, Spotted and Smallmouth) that are legal for me to culture. I have been posting on process with a chicken site and gotten a lot of interest there. Jim, You may find this really old thread useful. Black Soldier Fly Project Ken
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Joined: Nov 2009
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Fingerling
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Fingerling
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The larger traps we use appear to be surrounded by a swarm of green bees all day long with beetles falling into container as they come in. The container can fill with beetles in about 2 days. Container volume is 35 gallons. Compare that to a feed sack volume. Then consider how many days it takes you to feed out a sack of feed in a typical pond stocked with Bluegill. Then consider same thing happening with 8 traps forming a perimeter on a 1-acre plot.
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Joined: Oct 2015
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Joined: Oct 2015
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I imagine 35 gallons of beetles, dried and pelletized, would make about one gallon of pellets. The BG in my nearly 3 yr old 1/4 acre pond could eat that many pellets in two days.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2014
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My fish love them alive. BG, HBG, PS and YP all go after them when I toss them in.
From a growth, nutrition and/or cost perspective, does the beetle chow have an advantage over a good pellet currently on the market? Bump.... A little kid will fill up on popcorn but that doesn't mean it is nutritious. Are Japanese beetles good for the fish?
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
....I also saw a link on a bluegill site where someone shared how awesome the catalpa worm can be for bait when fishing for panfish.
Since caterpillars can be a blight (tent worms for example) and probably can reproduce as fast as beetles, maybe there is a way to grow catalpa worms on a large scale indoors? CC, I fished with catalpa worms a lot as a kid. They are awesome bait but I think you need catalpa trees. I have a few trees and currently am growing some more in my window sill in the 4 season room to plant in June. If you(or anybody else) want some northern Catalpa seeds, send me a PM. I would be happy to send you some. Bill D.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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