Imagine a planet where tiny creatures solve some our greatest problems. Enter the black soldiers fly larvae or BSFL. These creepy crawlers can be compared to nature’s premiumfeeders.ca/pages/dried-insects.
Let’s start by discussing their superpower, which is eating. These larvae can consume almost anything organic. Food waste? They will devour it before you can even say “compost.” They are the heroes of recycling because they transform waste into rich compost or protein-packed biomass. It’s done with enthusiasm! You can think of them like vacuum cleaners, only without the annoying noise.
Then, what do these fat little critters do after their feeding frenzy? You’re right, they don’t just disappear. BSFL is a source of sustainable animal feed that farmers and pet owners alike are turning to more often. With their high protein and fat content, these pellets are perfect for feeding chickens, fish or even reptiles. Imagine feeding your pet something once used to reduce landfill waste.
As for sustainability, these larves have another trick: they only need minimal resources to thrive. BSFL farming uses less water and space than traditional livestock production, which is a very high-maintenance method. It only takes a few bits of food and moisture to create a colony. Now you’ve got a healthy colony.
Then there’s something else! The frass that these larvae leave behind is a wonderful fertilizer. It enriches a soil with nutrients, which are loved by plants. So these bugs are not only useful for managing waste and providing feedstock but they also help produce healthier crops.
Let’s shift gears for a minute and take a look at anecdote of my friend Dave. Last summer, he tried raising BSFLs on his own backyard. Imagine Dave–a city resident with no experience in agriculture–decided that he wanted eggs from happy hens, fed with sustainable feed. After much research and watching too many late nights documentaries, Dave settled on using black soldiers fly larvae in chicken feed.
Dave was adamant and perhaps a little too coffee-fueled to set up his DIY BSFL recycling bin, using old crates as well as kitchen scraps that would be destined for the garbage. Dave now has hens who lay eggs with a vengeance, and his food waste is reduced significantly.
His story isn’t the only one; every day more and more people discover this simple, yet effective method. It makes sense economically as well as environmentally.
As with anything, raising these creatures does require patience (and sometimes holding your tongue). If you’re able to handle watching squirmy buggies munch on heaps and heaps mushy food every day–and believe me, it can be oddly rewarding–you will find that this is one rewarding undertaking indeed.
As we close, or rather before we conclude our discussion, the benefits that black soldier fly larves can offer go beyond pest control projects and backyard projects done right. Instead they present opportunities to agriculture sectors in countries around the world who are looking for sustainable alternatives.
If you ever hear that insects might save humanity from itself in the future, don’t forget those little maggots who are munching away unceasingly behind-the scenes. They could be leading us to brighter days ahead!