How to keep BSFL...?

[lizcrespo93]

I am waiting for an order of 500 BSFL and I'm not sure how to care for them or how to extend their life? Also, are the BSF as good a feeder as the BSFL? How long will they live as BSF? Should I gutload? Should I still dust the BSFL? Thanks in advance.

 

[Kronos]

We are interested in this also. We just placed an order for them. Did some research online, they say you don’t need to dust them but that seems kind of weird to me. Hoping someone with some more experience jumps in here.

 

[cwnannwn]

I have marginal experience with them. I have a second generation colony going.

So a few articles.
https://ie.unc.edu/files/2016/03/bsfl_how-to_guide.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/public...ns_for_smallscale_poultry_and_fish_production
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0232496
https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/39/4/695/904029
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0206097
https://www.researchgate.net/public...he_laboratory_low-cost_and_year-round_rearing
https://academic.oup.com/ee/article/42/2/370/428844

Ok. So I have a 30 gallon tub. I cut eggcrate to fit the bottom and placed window screen about it. I drilled a hole in the tub and placed a 1/2 inch valve with bulkhead through, fitted under the screen.

Inside I placed 1 inch pvc connecting like a swingset each corner for collecting. The larva climb inside the pvc and fall into a collections tray where the swing would go.

It then cut a 4 inch hole in the top used pvc to create a screened structure to collect the adults. I placed cardboard inside the colony for the females to lay eggs.

It looks like someone puked up plastic bits, but it does work. I have adults, eggs and larva. I plan to encase it with wood in winter, in the yard, placing a heat pad and light to keep it warm.

I also planned on redoing it later.

Warning, it does look like something puked up plastic.
/edit
And if I did this again, I would not do it this way. I would change everything. I would remove the top and make it a different enclosure. I would also make the collector collect outside the colony not inside.