Black Soldier Fly – Our dear friend in composting

Waste,Waste,STINKING Waste!!!

Most of us waste our precious time thinking about a perfect way to dispose wastes,as I did.But right now,I am less worried about it,as I figured out that there is a unique organism buzzing around us,who really feast on bio-wastes that worry us. 

  

This gentleman(or gentlefly) is….  

Well,it is a black little fly,named Black Soldier Fly {Hermetia illucens}who can be a savior to us from our waste management concerns.He may not be a stranger to you ; whose nice picture is given below.He is similar to a wasp;who is ready to help,not to sting  

A fly and composting!!? 

Why not ! As days pass,he will be your best friend,Of course ; as that foul smell of rotting fishes and meat that have annoyed you won’t be there anymore.Also he will drive away houseflies and prevent them from laying eggs on compost bin. 

Can a little fly be that much……? 

Before composting

After 7 hours

 Dear friend,it is not the fly who are going to help you.Like any fly,Black Soldier Fly also undergoes  metamorphosis{i.e fly lay eggs-->worms /larvae--> larvae to pupae -->pupae to fly}to complete its life cycle.Nature’s play,right ! Well,it’s the worm stage that matters, according to our wastes.

The worms of Black Soldier Fly are very hungry boys.They may intake kilograms of bio-wastes within hours and excrete a pulp like substance,which is an excellent source of nutrients,as per internet related information.Also,I spread it around my curry leaf tree (Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel) which brought her leaves back.May be a health tonic for plants.  

But do Black Soldier Fly  be another headache ?   

Definitely not,these flies have no mouth parts.Yes,I am serious,as they emerge out as fly from pupae stage,their mouth parts are modified so that no more feeding in fly stage.It’s main aim,from then onwards is to find out a mate and thereby multiply its race. 

What about the worms/larvae in the compost bin?  

They are good at eating,not at causing nuisance.When they reach maturity,they may try to move out of the compost bin and find out a safe,shady place to become pupae.I once put some mature worms with the compost on the feet of a guava plant,to findout whether it harm the plant or not.But,surprisingly they moved down from hot sun and find shelter under the dry leaves.Later they turn out to pupae.Not a single leaf  of  guava was harmed.

 Pupae of Black Soldier Fly can be used to feed chicken without another thought.Also if you want to use the service of larvae in future,you can incubate it to produce a colony of Black soldier flies.But as I love their freedom too,I let them be what they want.I have also read somewhere that the pupae are commercially sold for composting purpose.It can then bring some revenue also.  

Pupae of Black Soldier Fly

Pupae of Black Soldier Fly

  

Do we work hard to draw it’s attention?   

Yes,work hard to drill an opening on your compost bin :)Then only mother fly can lay eggs which later become larvae.Those flies are extra sensitive to rotten smells,especially that of fish or meat.So they will find out your bin,as it's their basic instinct :)Have some patience for a few days;That’s all. Better use plastic bins, paint bins or something,as the heat trapped inside thrills the worms :) They love high temperatures which accelerates their feeding tendancy. 

Mother fly on her way to lay eggs(inside the red circle) 

 

Don’t forget!!!!   

• To provide ventilation,as it provides oxygen to compost which accelerates the composting process. 

• Always put bio-wastes only,as worms have no wonder teeth to eat other things :)

Pipe compost in my compound;wastes are put inside a pipe and it turns out compost with the help of anerobic bacteria. 

My prehistoric compost bin :)  

My black soldier fly compost bin

Worms eating the wastes

                                            

Instead of buying bins for making  compost,I tried a nice idea which made me a basket weaver too.About 4 plastic sheets.some plastic ropes – compost bin ready:) I put some holes on the sides of the plastic sheet and stitched them together using the plastic wire.

 I had several fears until it worked well –whether worms jump out as spring from bin,could it withstand rain(as rain showers unexpectedly in my locality),would it attract rodents etc.It stands well in rain and rodents never made a look on my compost bin.    

Materials used to make compost bin 1.Plastic sheets,2.Plastic ropes

It’s not a great one,but all that glitters is not gold :) it meets my needs, that’s all.Better use big and  tough bins if stray dogs are there in your locality or there is more waste per day.  

My new compost bin  

 

compost bin using old metal bin

 

A big bin can serve as effective one to start black soldier fly composting. Keep a hole at the bottom so that the liquid extract or excretion of worms in semi-liquid form can be collected by placing a collector down it.Also keep some open space on the bottom so that black soldier fly can lay eggs inside the bin.

Add caption

liquid extract after composting

  

 

 

 

My findings around the compost bin  

My compost bin is now a little ecosystem :) Some tiny ants also visits it to dine along with worms;Some big ants who cleverly captures born out flies around the compost bin;a chameleon and some grey sparrows who usually challenges the Black Soldier Flies to lay eggs.I feel a little proud to be  the contributor of this ecosystem :)  

 I have heard much about composting,especially pipe compost which is gaining much popularity in Kerala,my state situates in India.But nothing can match with Black Soldier fly compost as it is 

• most eco- friendly(CO₂ is the major by-product during Black Soldier Fly Composting unlike methane,in anerobic composting which is a notorious  gas that causes global warming) 
• no offensive smell(though compost from Black Soldier Fly has some smell,it is hardly disturbing compared to the pungent smell from closed composting like pipe compost. 
• least time for composting – it only takes one or two days to obtain the waste if one or two kilograms of waste is dumped inside the bin;anerobic composting may take 1 to 2 months to convert waste to compost.
• Easy to install – the only device needed is a bin;also the presence of Black Soldier Fly in your surroundings.I think,those flies are very common in most places such as US,India etc. 

Hope you got a practical way to convert your bio-wastes to excellent compost for your plants.Thanks to Black Soldier Fly :)

*****Have a nice compost day*****