Black Soldier Fly Larvae
What is a Black Soldier Fly Larvae BSFL
Here are some key points about BSFL:
- Lifespan: An adult female black soldier fly lays about 200 to 600 eggs at a time, which hatch in approximately 4 days. Black Soldier Flys live about 5-8 days.
- Growth: The larvae start at 1.0 millimeter long and can grow up to 25 millimeters in length and weigh between 0.10 to 0.22 grams by the end of the larval stage1.
- Appearance: They can be identified by a thin gray-black stripe on their posterior ends.
- Feeding: BSFL are voracious feeders during their larval stage, which lasts about 14-18 days.
- Usefulness: They are highly valued for recycling organic waste and can be used to create a sustainable food source for animals like chickens and fish.
- They are indigenous to California, they are now common in the state and can be found living sympatrically with honey bees and other local species
- Cultivating black soldier fly larvae is legal in California. They are recognized for their beneficial role in composting and waste management.
The black soldier fly itself is a mimic fly, resembling the organ pipe mud dauber wasp, which helps it avoid predators. The larvae are particularly notable for their role in sustainable agriculture and waste management.
How do we make BSF larvae
When Black Soldier Flies (BSF) are ready to mate, they are placed into a tent where they mate and lay eggs between stacked pieces of wood. These stacks are then moved to a room where the eggs are collected and placed into growth tubs. The eggs hatch into larvae, which consume waste. Once mature, the larvae climb out of the tubs and are placed into a tented cage to metamorphose into flies, thus repeating the cycle.
One containerized growing unit and outside grow out area can produce 2400 pounds of larvae a day.
Nutritional Fact about BSFL
Black soldier fly larvae are high in protein and contain at least 18 amino acids, including all nine essential aminos. They have a complete profile of fatty acids as well that includes Omega-s for both short-chain (Omegas) and long chain (ω-s), which is hard to find with plant foods alone. In fact, black soldier fly larvae provide more than twice the daily recommended intake of vitamin A when compared to beef liver; over four times the iron found in spinach or broccoli; higher levels of calcium than milk and much lower concentrations of cholesterol.
The black soldier fly larvae also contain a good portion of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc – all essential for cell maintenance.
When dried out, they don’t lose many of these nutrients, but they do lose some of the fat content.
High protein
While many plant-based proteins are commonly used in animal feed, they vary greatly in protein content. For example, soybeans and bran meal contain about 26% of their weight as protein by dry matter basis. Fly larvae on the other hand can yield anywhere from 31%-45%!
High Calcium and Phosphorus
BSF larvae are the most calcium-rich food on this list. They contain 80 times more than other commonly eaten insects and have 2.8 – 6.2% calcium, 1 -1.2% phosphorus
High in Good Fats
BSF larvae are rich in lauric acid which makes it easier for pets to absorb nutrients.
A study found that 53% of the fat is made up of this good substance making BSF a more nutritious option than other fats typically used as feed ingredients.
The BSF larvae fat contains AWME, a secreted protein that has antibacterial properties and can kill lipid-coated viruses such as HIV or measles. It also helps to protect the intestinal tract of animals during development by strengthening their digestive system and absorbing nutrients more efficiently into the body. If an animal’s diet does not contain enough fatty acids then they will have less developed intestines which are difficult for digesting food properly because it is easily related to their intestine health – BSF larva makes sure your animals get enough fat!