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  1. #11
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    I'm looking to start up a colony of these myself. Have heard of neighbors who've had them in their compost bins, buy I haven't seen them in mine. So I guess they're native here (7a), but only active during the warm months. I'm thinking of starting a colony in my ap room to go year round.

    It'd be great to have these process my future tilapia leftovers, and serve as a supplement feed for my hens.

  2. #12
    Members bsfman's Avatar
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    Quote Originally Posted by eddiemigue
    I'm looking to start up a colony of these myself. Have heard of neighbors who've had them in their compost bins, buy I haven't seen them in mine. So I guess they're native here (7a), but only active during the warm months. I'm thinking of starting a colony in my ap room to go year round.

    It'd be great to have these process my future tilapia leftovers, and serve as a supplement feed for my hens.
    Unlikely you have a native population if you live much north off Kentucky. If you do, they won't likely show up until the average daily highs hit 78F or higher.

  3. #13
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    Thanks bsfman. Guess I'll have to shell out the $30 duckets or so for a starter colony.

    I plan to set these up in my ap room, but I don't necessarily want the flies all over, so I am wondering if it would be worth it to provide a separate enclosure or let them fly around the room. I also plan to setup a red worm composting bin in the same room, and figure that if I keep flies from accessing the worm bin, then nothing else would be a concern.

  4. #14
    Members bsfman's Avatar
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    Quote Originally Posted by eddiemigue
    Thanks bsfman. Guess I'll have to shell out the $30 duckets or so for a starter colony.

    I plan to set these up in my ap room, but I don't necessarily want the flies all over, so I am wondering if it would be worth it to provide a separate enclosure or let them fly around the room. I also plan to setup a red worm composting bin in the same room, and figure that if I keep flies from accessing the worm bin, then nothing else would be a concern.
    If you keep BSF in the same room with your worms, it is inevitable the worm bins will wind up with BSF larvae. You might be successful in keeping the adult flies out of your worm bin, but they will lay eggs on and near the bin and the microscopic hatchlings WILL find a way in! This is not necessarily an issue though, since BSF and worms can co-exist in a somewhat symbiotic relationship.

    A screened or mesh fabric enclosure might serve to keep the population of BSF contained and increase the likelihood of captive breeding.

  5. #15
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    How big does the enclosure have to be? Say that I build a bucket, or rubbermaid tote BSF composter.

  6. #16
    Members bsfman's Avatar
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    Quote Originally Posted by eddiemigue
    How big does the enclosure have to be? Say that I build a bucket, or rubbermaid tote BSF composter.
    For that size, you won't need much. Maybe a 4 foot cube would be enough. You need to put a few plants inside for leaking sites.

  7. #17
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    Thanks again. Noob question - what are leaking sites?

  8. #18
    Members bsfman's Avatar
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    Quote Originally Posted by eddiemigue
    Thanks again. Noob question - what are leaking sites?
    "Lekking sites" - the male adult BSF take up residence on plant leaves and when other males or females approach, they do an aerial dance to scare away the male competitors and entice the females into a bug booty call type situation.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lek_mat...kking_behavior

  9. #19
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    LOL. As I read "entice the females into a bug booty call type situation" I somehow heard a Bow Chiki Bow Bow (70's porn music) in the background.

  10. #20
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    Re: How to get rid of it and do yourself a favor ;)

    Those who dont enjoy AP...Have not been on this site
    Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable - Zig Ziglar

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