Black soldier fly larvae could revolutionize the global food supply

[lordsummerisle]

thewashingtonpost.com/jamestownsun.com

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - It may be hard to understand the appeal of plunging your hand into a pile of writhing maggots. But the sensation is uniquely tactile, not at all unpleasant, as thousands of soft, plump grubs, each the size of a grain of rice, wriggle against your skin, tiny mouthparts gently poking your flesh.

https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/science-and-nature/3008067-Black-soldier-fly-larvae-could-revolutionize-the-global-food-supply

[tblue37]

1. K&R for visibility. nt

[Farmer-Rick]

2. I always wanted to incorporate them into my chicken and fertilizer food chain.

I use to have a ton of leftover mushroom straw covered in fibrous oyster mushroom mycelium. To break it up for mulch to spread on the plants takes a lot of effort. I thought the black soldier fly larvae could do it for me, as long as I added some other tasty treats for maggots. Then I would get maggots to feed to chickens, decomposed mulch, and flies that would push-out the stinky black flies from the ecological niche they currently inhabit.

But I would rather eat the chicken and vegetables after they eat the maggots and decomposed mulch.

Those soldier flies are just so amazing in what they can do.

[NickB79]

6. I used a hanging bucket with holes drilled in the lid and bottom

I put a bunch of dead bullheads and kitchen scraps in it, sealed the lid on, and hung it in my coop run. Flies would get inside through the holes, lay eggs, and the maggots would drop through the bottom holes looking for soil to pupate in. The chickens loved it.

Unfortunately, it did start to smell fairly bad if you got too close to it

[Farmer-Rick]

7. Good idea. Did it reduce your fly population?

I've been thinking of some kind of lure for the marmorated stink bug and Colorado potato beetle which my chickens love to eat. If I could attract them to where my chickens are located instead of in my garden.

[angstlessk]

3. Interesting article, but this..

..

as thousands of soft, plump grubs, each the size of a grain of rice, wriggle against your skin, tiny mouthparts gently poking your flesh.

Makes me want about 1,000 as pets

[secondwind]

4. Wow! What article! K&R

[Duppers]

5. 👍👍

Thanks for posting this.

[mountain grammy]

8. Very interesting.. thanks for posting.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Thanks, very interesting.

I know termites had been considered for the same purpose -- they can eat newsprint, after all -- but I've never heard of that going anywhere.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. Kicked and recommended. ❤ nt