Black Soldier Fly Mating Structure for Continual BSFL Operations

This video is intended to answer some of the wintertime soldier fly mating questions. Please note: I do not have plans for this structure to be built. It began as a rough sketch and was modified throughout the construction. The height of the unit is 73". It's 61" wide and 26" deep. The top hood section (housing the lights) is 12". The area where the flies are active is 30" high. And the section below where the bin of larvae and egg laying tray is about 14".
Some basic design notes: This is a wooden structure, designed that way to create a more substantial climate-controlled space. There is a hood that houses four light sockets, two are wired to a thermostat and run heat lamps, and two are LED daylight light bulbs to mimic sunlight. (Key word "daylight" is very important here, not "warm." I use LED flood lights.) The light specifics are: 120 watt LED (uses 15.5 watts) daylight-5000k, 1400 lumens, weatherproof by Feit Electric
The walls are white to keep light bouncing around the space and make it even brighter. It is necessary to clean these walls at least every other week.
For a water source, I use sponges that I swap out every other day and I damped every day. The flies like to have water to drink and wet their whistle.
This structure has sustained regular egg harvesting to generate enough larvae to manage about 1000 lbs of food scraps a week. I have no idea how many flies are in it. Enough. There are enough flies.

[@FusionDeveloper]

Could you please add all the details about the daylight lights you use? I've tried various lights and had great success and zero success. Details: Daylight kelvin: 5,000k? Lumens: 1,500? Actual Wattage usage per bulb: 15 watts? Brand name: Wal-Mart Great Value? PAR or any other details that the light gives and especially if it brags about it: (fill in the blank). Black Soldier Flies are INSANELY sensitive to the brightness and color of light. With a bright enough light, the moment you turn on the light, they will start mating. With a light that is a little too dim, they won't mate at all. Anything in between will give you mediocre results. This is why I want to know exactly the details on YOUR lights, so that I can compare them with my own and others. I'm not saying yours is the best or worst, because I don't know the details. I know sunlight is king for them, but very impractical for many reasons: 1. Weather Damage: Wind storms, Rain, Hail, Snow 2. Extreme Temperatures: 100+f and below 60f 3. Pests and opportunistic Feeders: lizards, birds, rats, roaches, mites, ants, etc. 4. Angry neighbors: Some neighbors will complain and harass people who have a fly cage outside, even if they just don't like it if they have to use a ladder to look over your privacy fence and see it. 5. Space outside is limited, plus building materials to hold up. Indoors can be controlled, so indoors is easier.

[@fullcirclebio]

120 watt LED (uses 15.5 watts) daylight-5000k, 1400 lumens, weatherproof by Feit Electric

[@FusionDeveloper]

@@fullcirclebio cool thanks!

[@mastersviews]

أكثر من رائع ، شكراً على المعلومات القيمة .

[@SuperMousta]

Hi I'm a BSF farmer in Morocco my company name is IZI-Proteine I think in this model of love cage you loose a lot of eggs. Because fly can laying eggs in different place into your love cage system. The eggs production average is very low. in my experience choose ewag system. Have a good day 😘

[@nigelhorsley5650]

What daylight light do you use? Brand etc.would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[@fullcirclebio]

I am currently using Feit Electric flood lights, daylight (5000k) 120 watt LED

[@beranurkaraaslan9717]

Could you advise me about which type lamb do you use for daylight?thank you

[@fullcirclebio]

I use a 120 watt-equivalent LED flood light that runs in the cooler light range to best mimic daylight.

[@unknownpersonofnointerest2743]

You have any plans to help us build your setup?

[@fullcirclebio]

I don't -- it was a project that evolved through the build and used up materials that we had laying around

[@الفصولالاربعة-ن3ث]

شكرا جريلا هل تحصد كرات البيض كل يوم أو كل يومين

[@fullcirclebio]

Good question: I've found that every other day works best. Once the females sense eggs are in the bioballs, they keep laying eggs there, so more eggs, more egg-laying in that concentrated location. I will leave some bioballs with eggs in the next tray of fresh bioballs

[@الفصولالاربعة-ن3ث]

@@fullcirclebio ♥

[@P10101G]

Hi, is there any use for the dead adult flies?

[@fullcirclebio]

I'll sweep the dead flies into larvae bins and they breakdown. Or I'll throw some out for the birds.

[@faaruqrasheed2716]

Where is the egg hatching atea

[@faaruqrasheed2716]

Area

[@fullcirclebio]

@@faaruqrasheed2716 It's nothing special: I collect eggs into small plastic (gallon-sized) containers which I've poured spent coffee grounds into. The eggs remain there until they hatch -- 2 days, 3 at the very most -- and then I'll add them to more substantial food in a larger gray bin. The youngest bins will only get fed every 3 days until the 10th day

[@johnosborne5018]

Curious on the holes in your bins is that so they can escape easier? I had an idea I am going to implement love your thoughts on it. One of the auto (gravity) dog feeders full of water and stuff sponges where the water comes out so you don't have to soak the sponges as much. Thank you again for sharing!

[@fullcirclebio]

The flies can emerge more easily and it provides ventilation for the bin. Moisture is less likely to build up in these, preventing any compaction or uncomfortable conditions for flies/prepupae. The gravity fed waterer could work, but I've found that a large, moistened area works really well to keep flies from drowning. I used a large lid with a burlap bag covering that I would add water to every other day. It still turns into a chore to keep clean. That's why I've gone to the sponge method. I have to change them out periodically because once one female discovers it to lay eggs, many follow, and soon it turns into a hatchery. I've also seen a lidded plastic bin filled with water, with a cloth woven through two slits on the lid. It acts as a big wick and then the flies land, drink and fly off with no danger. That is next on my upgrade list.

[@kap4020]

great vid! do you still use the "bio balls", or have you found something better? many thanks 🙏

[@fullcirclebio]

@@kap4020 bio balls still going strong

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

Great video. Are you doing this as a business? Are you selling the larvae or just feeding your chickens/fish/something else? I'm interested in this because I have chickens and want to feed them the larvae. I just started my first bin outside, but was curious about doing one for the winter.

[@fullcirclebio]

Yes this is a business. I supply to a local feed store and their customers are buying for chickens or birds

[@dirkventer8112]

Hi just came across your video very nicely done i got onto the band wagon late and its winter coming up my side in SA you don't mention dimensions more or less would work and ventilation sorry if i missed it in the video or comments section, its looking very good 🙏💪🤙🤙🤙😁

[@fullcirclebio]

The height of the unit is 73". It's 61" wide and 26" deep. The top hood section (housing the lights) is 12". The area where the flies are active is 30" high. And the section below where the bin of larvae and egg laying tray is about 14". There's a lower shelf that's used for storage, and it's all on wheels.

[@FusionDeveloper]

Thank you for raising Black Soldier Flies.

[@abirhasnat7760]

Mam, reply pls, how can I remove odor from my farm

[@fullcirclebio]

It could be from too much moisture or too much residue. Too much moisture and not enough air flow makes for foul odor conditions. You could do some passive screening by dumping the larvae/residue on a screen to let larvae fall through and then the residue will stay clumped on top of the screen. I demonstrate my passive screen setup in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYWWXmqOnrJgepI I hope this helps guide you to a solution.

[@adriantreadway2269]

That’s a great idea

[@Lili-jl7rg]

Thanks for sharing the info your your lights. I will changing my light to your model as I'm not having success with what I'm currently using. I notice you seem to have 4 light bulbs in your cage? How wide is it? Could too much light be a thing? Thanks so much!

[@fullcirclebio]

Too much light as in too many hours of light? Yes. Too much light as in too bright? Most likely not

[@lauromontanholi5682]

Gosto muito do seu canal e das suas dicas,obrigado .Moji Guaçu S.P Brasil.

[@jamesmage5405]

Thank you for this. I have to copy this.

[@codyfutia363]

Hello!!! I love your videos and find them fascinating!!! I'm in the process of starting my own BSFL farm but i was wondering what preferred method do you use to dry the larve after harvest?

[@fullcirclebio]

I microwave them

[@DavidPoland-fv1nd]

Thanks a million for sharing! Can I ask if you need to provide any UVA lights or UVB lights for them, to get them to breed successfully indoors please?

[@fullcirclebio]

I've seen where larger operations use a blue light, but I'm not sure what that spectrum is. I know grow lights aren't usually helpful. I've tried to find light bulbs that closest mimics sunlight.

[@madboxtv6853]

thx for this info i will build a setup like this but smaller for food scrap and feeding my aquaponics trout. Do you give only food scrap to them or do you make some mixture ?

[@fullcirclebio]

Only food scraps. My main objective is to divert organics from the landfill.

[@beranurkaraaslan9717]

How many celcius degree the larvaes need? Do you use any heat source İn winter season or they can take care theirselfs?

[@fullcirclebio]

The larvae will do best in 21C and a little warmer. I have to keep my larvae in an insulated room for the cold winters that we have.

[@scottstevens7253]

Great video.. I scanned through the comments but didn't catch anything on the schedule your lights operate on and off.. One study recommended 12 to 16 hours of light a day.. I was curious what you think about it and roughly what you have going with the lighting hours.. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge so that we can all learn more about bsf

[@fullcirclebio]

My timer is set to be on 12 hours. Right now I have daylight bulbs in the thermostat controlled light sockets, so currently those are on all the time. I haven't seen a diminished effect. It certainly helps to have all 4 daylight bulbs on at once. Two isn't quite enough.

[@scottstevens7253]

@@fullcirclebio Okay great; thanks so much for the response and help.. Also, I noticed that little underneath area you built for them where it is a little darker.. I really wonder if they all go under there from time to time to escape the light or if 24 hours of light simply doesn't bother them all that much. Anyways, I'm going to try 12 hours to start, thanks again..

[@kazuza9]

Excellent idea

[@ultimavermicompost]

I like the set up

[@robertvenable368]

Do you have a blueprint or drawing of this ? Please reply Thank you.

[@fullcirclebio]

I don't. This structure was the result of mostly repurposed materials so the design morphed as it progressed. I think it started off as a glorified napkin sketch

[@robertvenable368]

Thank you anyway.

[@SuperMousta]

Hi I'm a BSF farmer in Morocco my company name is IZI-Proteine I think in this model of love cage you loose a lot of eggs. Because fly can laying eggs in different place into your love cage system. The eggs production average is very low. in my experience choose ewag system. Have a good day 😘

[@fullcirclebio]

Hello! You're not wrong about the egg laying. This hard structure is built with the primary goal of consistent mating conditions, and in the winter time it works great for maintaining heat. My operation is far from perfect but I've used some of the methods in the ewag model that have been pretty successful. Until I find a new space, this has been working very well. It just means I spend more time cleaning it and collecting eggs

[@SuperMousta]

@@fullcirclebio ok 👌

[@fullcirclebio]

I'm not familiar with Morocco's climate. Do you have dramatic season changes to navigate through for successful fly farming?

[@mohamedmahadeen7276]

Great model, I liked it, but I have a question. Do you add vitamin H selenium to them to increase egg laying, and do you add calcium?

[@fullcirclebio]

I don't supplement anything at this time. I don't have much space to work with.

[@mohamedmahadeen7276]

@@fullcirclebio Nice talking to you I'm trying to understand how a fly lives before I start

[@fullcirclebio]

@@mohamedmahadeen7276 The flies are the trickiest part, but they are my favorite part. I've always been fascinated by them and their beauty

[@rodrigothomaz5607]

Muito bom 😊 qual lâmpada 💡 luz quantos watts

[@rodrigothomaz5607]

AA I'm in Brazil, could you give me a tip with the lamp?

[@fullcirclebio]

@@rodrigothomaz5607 120 watt LED daylight bulb, 5000K

[@gamiensrule]

This is fantastic! So a many questions. If you wanna do a video on any of them I'm sure everyone would find it super helpful. 1 : how do you clear the dead flies? Manually? 😮 2 : do you ever clean the inside of the main housing area? 3 : do you get eggs inside the cracks and crevices in the main housing area? 4 : are the flies in the room escaped from the box or do they just show up from outside? 5 : to clarify - you have pre-pupea in the fly box and you just allow them to hatch, right? How often do you change those out, or how do you know when they've all hatched? Time?

[@fullcirclebio]

I might do a video but I can answer your burning questions quicker in a reply here: 1. I sweep them out with a brush every time I collect eggs. They go either in a compost pile or a feeding bin. 2. I spray the white walls down with water every week or so to keep them bright. And I'll brush out the wire mesh "flooring" occasionally. It's a good structure for the fly housing and mating but it is cumbersome to clean. 3. The females will lay eggs wherever they want. I can try to incentivize certain areas, but that is no guarantee. 4. The flies in that video were from bins that had pupae in the room, since the hutch is only so big to hold the pupation bins. 5. I don't have a strict timeline for that. I'll add a few handfuls of pupae every time I collect eggs. And I can usually tell by lifting one of the white baskets by how many empty pupae husks there are. If it feels light, I'll refill it.

[@gamiensrule]

@@fullcirclebio Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions!!

[@garybobbermien888]

Wondering how many kilo’s a week you get from this set up ???

[@fullcirclebio]

Full disclosure: I don't track that number. I did an isolated tracking chart where I weighed all inputs and outputs for three months. The first 4 weeks of one day's hatch turned into roughly 40 pounds of larvae.