After almost a month of trying to get some BSF larvae established I was pretty disappointed. I had seen them laying eggs in my scrap bucket. I had seen what looked like eggs developing, but no larvae. When I checked the bucket last week there were some fruit flies, mostly dead, and some dehydrated vegetables. I just forgot about it until today.
I had left the lid off and when it rained the other day water got in the bucket. I realized that today when I walked by and saw a few flies buzzing around. Sure enough, they were Black Soldier Flies. I looked inside and saw a nice sloppy pile of rotten vegetables, and larvae. Big, juicy BSF larvae.
I guess it might just have been too dry for them to develop. Some of the larvae had drowned so I poured the liquid out. I snapped the lid on and observed several BSF flying around the bucket. Eventually I saw them entering the 1/2 inch triangular holes cut into the sides of the bucket.
IIRC, BSF are attracted to the scent of their own larvae. Soon I should have a teeming pile of the little soldiers. Anybody need some bait?
Anyone for some corn on the cob? (click to enlarge)
On the left side you can see an adult entering the sealed bucket.
Not quite as big as I've seen in other photos, but it's a start.
