How to Farm Black Soldier Flies

Black soldier fly larvae(Hermetia illucens) converts organic waste into high-quality nutrients for pet foods, fish and poultry feeds, as well as residue fertilizer for soil amendment. These larvae feed on different decaying organic material, such as rotting fruits and vegetables, animal manure and human excreta. This is one of the best solutions to manage organic waste as the process is entirely organic, and the output is an excellent alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Interested in doing a black soldier fly organic waste management project, then here are the steps that you can follow;

1. Setting up a rearing or breeding area

The first step is to set up a breeding area for the black soldier flies. You can use a plastic container, wooden box, or any other suitable container. Ensure there is good ventilation for fresh air circulation inside the rearing room. You can use electric lights to attract emerged flies from the dark cages into the mating cages and to light the whole rearing room. Water, compost and an electric blender are also necessary to prepare the attractant material placed in the mating cages.

2. Introducing the black soldier flies

The next step is to introduce the black soldier flies into the breeding area. You can purchase black soldier fly eggs or larvae from a local supplier or online. Put the eggs or larvae to the moist material in the container.

3. Feeding

Chicken feed is used to feed larvae for the first 5 days and for larvae kept in the rearing facility until they reach their prepuce stage. The black soldier flies feed on organic waste, so you need to ensure that they have a regular supply of food. You can feed them with kitchen waste, fruit scraps, vegetable scraps, and other organic materials. Avoid adding any meat, dairy, or oily food as it can attract other pests.

4. Harvesting the larvae

After 13 days, larvae are manually separated from residue using a sieve. Hereby, the mixture of larvae and residue is spread out onto the sieve, where then larvae crawl through the sieve’s holes to a recipient below to avoid sunlight. The larvae can be used as animal feed or sold as a source of protein for fish and poultry farms A pressurized water system is used to clean the recipient and flush larvae to a harvesting system.

5. Reside composting

After larvae harvesting, the remaining residue is composted using the same approach as a typical biowaste composting process. You can compost the waste to further break down the organic matter and enrich the soil. You can use the compost for gardening, farming, or landscaping.

6. Maintaining the breeding facility

You need to maintain the breeding area regularly. It requires regular cleaning of all equipment to ensure the success of the black soldier fly organic waste management project. Remove any dead insects or larvae, clean the container, and add fresh food regularly. Ensure that the breeding area is well-ventilated and protected from extreme temperatures.

A black soldier fly organic waste management project is an excellent way to reduce organic waste and produce high-quality organic fertilizer. By following these steps, you can set up a breeding area for the black soldier flies and manage organic waste efficiently. This process is entirely organic and sustainable, making it an ideal solution for individuals and communities who are looking for eco-friendly waste management solutions.