Here's my thought. It was inspired by a link that someone else on Garden Web provided on BSFs, I think one of the vermicomposting regulars, but see slide 31 and 32.

I was thinking about putting a 32 or 64 oz. cup with a ramp (an old frisbee) similar to this setup in the bin to collect the BSF, but my wife said the worm bin wouldn't come in the house and we don't have a garage so I scrapped the plan. I was going to use the hole saw and cut it on one side of the frisbee and fit it over the cup. You would need to cut with the frisbee tilted so it would get the angle you desired. It would be contained within the bin.

If you wanted a collection unit outside the bin you could probably lean some plastic that is long enough to handle the bin depth. I was thinking of some clear flexible tubing cut in half so you can remove any escaping worms. You could then direct the tubing bin toward the indention where the handles are. Drill a hole in the indention and put some clear aquarium tubing in that hole. You could then "screw" this tubing on a 2 or 3 liter or use a hose clamp.

All theory right now, but I may need something like this when I move the worm neighbors into my shed so I don't have a bunch of BSF larvae in the shed.

Charles

Here is a link that might be useful: Bio-Conversion of Putrescent Wastes

Addendum:

According to Dr. Oliver the ramp shouldn't be more than 40 degree angle and it should be no less than 20 angle (Slides 26 and 27)

That range prevents other fly species from getting out of the bin, but the BSF can handle the incline.

frogonalog..Yes, I have that power point. For any of you that have not seen it use the link in the previous post and check it out. It has information about Black Soldier Fly, and is worth the read. I am going to try top come up with a homemade version of the collection bin and am hoping some clever people on this forum will help.

As I described in another post, I have a Kelly's-plan worm bin in my garage (I think it's a ten-gallon rubbermaid) which I have placed on top of another bin of the same size that has a light bulb suspended in it. A section of hardware cloth serves to keep the top bin from falling into the bottom bin, and also as a point to hang the bulb from. I have collected a number of BSF larvae from the bottom bin. They appear to leave the top bin through the 1/2-inch ventilation holes, (whether the top or bottom row of holes, I cannot say) and fall into the bottom bin, where they are nice and warm and dry, so they stay.

Your milage may vary.

Peter

Peter..What is the light bulb for?

Hi SQH1; the light bulb is to keep the top bin warm. I have it in a coffee can to help absorb and radiate heat equally under the bottom of the top bin. The temperature at the bottom of the top bin seems to be staying at about 75 degrees F, even with the outside temperatures dipping into the low 30's. The heat rising through the top bin seems to be keeping the worms active, but it has also fooled some of the BSF larvae into thinking that Spring has come, and they've hatched out.

Peter

How do you put the hardware cloth in? Isn't the top bin heavy? And...Do you have anything in the lower bin that the BSF's go into, like bedding, or do you transfer them somewhere else? I spoke to a guy that is building bins just for BSF's. He says they must stay warm but eat enormous amounts of raw OM. They are setting up a system at a senior residence, that serves 3000 meals a day and these BSF's are going to consume the food waste.

My sole purpose during the winter (indoor bin) months is keeping my wife and BSF separated. I've researched the ramps and other bins, and have improvised what I feel will keep the BSF a secret from you-know-who.

I just finished separating, by hand, worms and cocoons from every other living critter in all my bins headed into the house. Lots can be learned during a project such as this. For one thing, when critters with legs crawl away from the glob of bin contents piled up on your card table, they, in EVERY case, crawl directly toward the human doing the project. They never crawl in the other direction.

Also, in several of the bins, the ratio of worms to cocoons was about 10:l. But in 2 of my bins, the ratio was about 3:l...why is that. Both of those bins were identical to the others.

But back to the project: lots of the BSF larva and other critters were relocated to an outside bin to make their own way as independent contractors.

The last bin, (the one of interest here), an 18 gal Sterilite, I left as is with lots of worms and lots of BSF. I placed that bin inside a 30 gal Sterilite (just fits) with only the two 1/2 inch holes in the handle area covered with screen wire. It is in the garage, and I'll tend to it outdoors when no one is watching at which point the BSF that have reached the outer bin will be pardoned and released.

This plan will work, I believe, until my wife decides to see what's in the big Sterilite container. At that point, the possibility of divorce will probably be a very real part of my future.

Chuckiebtoo

I haven't had any BSF larva (yet) in my bins...my question is once you get them, how do you keep them? It sounds like the BSF larva crawl off to a warm dry spot to pupate and turn into BSF adults. So are y'all just throwing the escapees outside? How do you keep the colony going?

From what I saw on the powerpoint presentation, BSF larva can handle a HUGE amount of waste. How come there isn't a BSF larvacomposting forum? It sounds like they can really reduce the volume of garbage, and then the worms can polish it off.

Also, I think I saw something about the BSF larva being able to handle human excrement? Does the process of them breaking it down destroy any pathogens?

Also, I saw a plastic bin designed for BSF larva in the PP presentation. Is this available for sale anywhere?

Chuckie,
What size screen wire is covering the holes near the handle? I am trying to picture your set up...
:)
Tina

I'll TRY to post some pics of it. But the screen wire is window-screen wire. It's basically just a worm bin inside a larger sealed (except the air holes) bin to keep the BSF from occupying the same approximate space as my spouse. I'll take the bin outside...it's in the garage now...once a week or so and open the lid to both.

A couple of other observations:

If you do have BSF larva in significant numbers in a bin, moisture content will probably never need your help. The upper bedding will be MUCH dryer than the muck in the lower part of the bin. The BSF seem to generate moisture. As a matter of fact, I believe that EF require far less moisture content than commonly called for, (my bins rarely leak ANY moisture), but can tolerate a wide range of bed conditions. It seems to be pretty damned hard to kill em...IMHO.

Everyone should put on some latex exam gloves, turn a bin upside-down on a table, sit down and dig in. Sort out the stuff and see what's happening in there. Lots of good info will come out of it. Where the cocoons are and aren't. How the worms congregate around what type of foodstuff. Be amazed how such a yucky place ain't all that bad. Wonder why the EF, and lots and lots of their cocoons all seem to be imbedded in the muckiest, wettest, least "desirable" parts of the bin...the areas bordering on, if not already anaerobic..not what we consider to be their favorite hang-outs, huh? Explore their little world. Believe what some worm gurus tell us....or your lying eyes.

I'm into my bins all the time. (I put together 1000-worm bins on a regular basis.) I don't leave them alone for months at a time. I keep em in a pretty constant state of disturbance and have never, except for the once because of the heat in my car, had an evacuation. They NEVER leave the bins.

During my past few days of segregating worms and cocoons into new bins from everything else in there, my overwhelming impression about the populations of the bins...worms, BSF larva, pillbugs, big bugs, little bugs, unidentifiable crawling alien life-forms, etc...is how well they all get along. It's a shame the creepy-crawly's inhabiting this little Earth-bin of ours can't do the same.

Chuckiebtoo

Now, if I can just get them trained to give themselves up at harvest time.....

Amen to that about those in the big bin Chuckiebtoo!

Just curious, Chuckiebtoo. Doesn't your wife even suspect? I do enjoy reading your posts, though.

My wife knows I'm doing something which would probably repulse her. I make every effort to help her maintain those fears. A couple of weeks ago, I started a new experiment consisting of 51 hand-picked BSF larvae placed in a little margarine tub with an applecore. My intention was to keep track of them, note when they were ready to leave, and pass this info on to all of you. The first night of the test, I left the margarine lid loosely atop the little tub slightly opened for air (no, I don't know why I didn't poke a hole in the top and secure it). Next morning when I took inventory, 41 of them had escaped and were at large...in the storeroom adjacent to the kitchen...where my woman spends lots of time cooking, causing the temps to be warm and toasty...which are the temps the BSF are looking for and seem to hone in on thru walls. They began showing themselves in groups of 4 or five everyday. I made every effort to search the area before the wife found them. I found about half...she, the other half. I tried to convince her the invasion had been caused by global warming knowing it was useless. Finally, she accepted my explanation that our unseasonable dry month had driven the critters, dying of thirst, into the house looking for a drink.

Chuckiebtoo