(Please share this as appropriate - thank you)
These beautiful BSFL will be at Gator City on 34th around noon today (Tuesday, 9/20)). This batch has a much better fragrance now that the cabbage that drew in the adults originally is finally gone. BSFL tend to smell like whatever they're eating.
These have been eating mealworm frass and sand pears, finished the last day or two on fresh organic wheat bran. My thinking is to dry them out for escapeless delivery, but also to purge the poop (mealworm frass) out of them. I don't know if it makes a difference to the critters eating them as none have actually mentioned it, it just seems to be the healthy thing to do.
They're delivered with a little bit of wheat bran, no moisture source. They can get all the moisture they need from the atmosphere, especially in FL. As long as they're fed, they'll keep growing, so expect them to pupate within 2 weeks or less of delivery.
BSFL can handle very high temps and low levels of oxygen, but they don't manage well at temps below about 50F, so not good candidates for long term fridge storage to slow growth. However, most ice coolers hover around 50F, so you could keep them on ice. Big, fat ones are fabulous for fishing, I'm told, because they keep wiggling for a long time.
I've discovered that if they are kept relatively dry, they stay put, but add a lid and the condensation builds up fast and away they go, up and out the sides. Very often, they'll get stuck in the lid crevices or even escape. This is not a good thing if you're keeping them inside.
I've got plenty of absolutely gorgeous, healthy BSFL available now and should for at least two more weeks, maybe until the first frost if the weather cooperates. I'm starting them outside and bringing new hatches in daily to the screened porch where they're pampered in the same way as my mealworms were, which means I mess with them often, especially when there's housework to be done. :)
PS I'm getting better at texting, though the si
These marvelous maggots - aka Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) will be delivered to Gator City on 34th later today (Wed 9/14). BSFL are available for pick-up in Citra by appointment as well as delivery to Gainesville almost weekly, Ocala as needed. I expect them to be around through this month, if the weather cooperates and neighbors don't spray.
$3/ounce up to 10 ounces, then $2.50 to 1# (swapped to your container over 10 ounces)
$35/#, then $2/ounce
Estimate 200 minimum count mixed size larvae per ounce.
2 ounce minimum please, over 10 ounces, swapped to your container.
Thank you! I'm so happy to not go cold turkey from messing with my larvae.
Normally, BSFL live outside until a day or two before delivery, but now that I don't have a crowd of big dogs standing watch, I've got night time competition so I've collected new hatches each day to grow out on the screened porch. I hope to keep these going at least through the end of September, but weather has a lot of influence over that.
This batch is still exceptionally fragrant because I drew the adults in with Napa Cabbage. Cabbage just does not smell good when it's decomposing, but it's not as bad as potatoes. In my world, it doesn't come close to the misery caused by various air "fresheners" and other chemically based fragrances.
The Black Soldier Flies are here again - it must have been the Napa cabbage I added to the mealworm frass. It STINKS to high heaven and really draws them in.
I've repurposed a peanut jar to hold about 10 ounces of maggots comfortably. Short term, there is enough oxygen to keep the lid on, but put a bit of screen on it while it was waiting for delivery. I set it on its side so the maggots weren't so deep that the ones on the bottom can't wiggle and breathe, but much to my surprise, some teensy tiny maggots made it through the mesh. Changed the angle and solved the problem.
If the sides of the container are wet, the BSFL will crawl out, doesn't matter the angle. They'll go straight up. To keep them in place, keep the substrate dry and the lid off.
BSFL (Black Soldier Fly Larvae) - I can't leave the bugs alone. Limited availability for as long as weather cooperates. These are finishing for some turtles' table on organic wheat bran and home grown aloe vera.
Harvesting Mealworms - these lovelies are going in the freezer after they eat only carrot for a day, then they'll go in the oven to be dried for high-protein snacks. I'm hoping for one more cold morning this spring to turn on the oven. I don't use it in hot weather because it takes too much energy to cool the place back down.
I'll have extra mealworms mid-April, plenty of beetles for you to start your own farms NOW!
Overnight beetles in the Pupation Station. Beetles emerge white, turn to a lovely chestnut brown then black over a day or two. Black beetles are full adults and ready to breed.
I have plenty of young beetles available for you to farm your own mealworms. Please message me.
Gathering beetles from their "pupation station." These weigh 1.8 ounces, about 600 count.
PLENTY of BEAUTIFUL, young beetles for everyone - start today and harvest worms by summer and forever after. Farms are $25 & $50, postage in Florida is only $9, elsewhere up to $17. See comments for more information.
Try this on a big screen. :)
I often say that I touch every one of the now millions of worms I raise, and it's not really an exaggeration. By the time they're delivered, I've sifted and sorted them uncounted times.
This is a grow out bin, 28L, longer and shallower than the nurseries. These worms have 2-4 days to finish, during which they'll be sifted for frass at least twice. This tray was sifted a few hours after recording-mealworms can eat a lot of bran in a short time.
At :58 in the video, I've pointed out the frass that will be removed. In a clear bin, you can see it build up on the bottom, too, as it always settles down.
Perhaps one of the reasons my worms are as healthy and hardy as they are is because they don't live in their own excrement for any length of time. Maybe it's because of the TLC, too.
Mountain of Maggots
I'm THRILLED the BSFL seem to be back and thriving. These are "finishing" in spent bran and are ready to go. I have a hard time not playing in them - they're even more mesmerizing than mealworms!
Many of these will be delivered to Gator City Reptiles on 34th St in Gainesville just before opening (noon) on Wednesday.
$5/ounce; 4 oz/$10; 8 oz/$15. Estimate there are about 200 BSFL in an ounce, but it really depends on size.
I usually pack BSFL in a repurposed container so they don't need to be swapped.
My mosquitofish pond this morning.
Water from two IBC tanks that collect roof rainwater drain into it via long hoses that also serve to spot water the yarden or move water fast to outer edges of the property during major storms/hurricanes. I use a pump, which is hanging from the side of the pool, to easily move water around the yarden from the fish pond during dry periods. It's a modern feature in the last year. Previously, I bucketed water to whoever needed it. I'm sure my plants love all the fish poop in the water.
I'd intended to do a floating garden on this, but didn't quite achieve lift off. Personnel shortage. :)
BSFL are back - not shouting it, because I'm not sure how long they'll be around - chickens are thrilled.
Ask for a free snack pack next time you get worms.
Sold by weight, $5/oz.
4oz/$10
8 oz./15. swapped to your container (unless I have one to recycle)
These are mixed sizes (small ones, too), est 200/per ounce but I'm not counting. :) I used to.....
