How to Feed My BSF Larvae to Optimize Production? Part 2

​Larval nutrition- Okay... so what do you feed the larvae? The good news is black soldier fly larvae can handle just about anything that isn't boiling hot, void of nutrition (cardboard), or frozen.  But there is a balance. As a FYI- we are planning a future blog post (as previously mentioned) that will go into more detail on larval nutrition.  But for here- one thing you should know is while BSF larvae are omnivorous, they do better on plant-based material (veggies). If you plan to feed them meat, it should be, 1) shredded to increase accessibility by the larvae (don't place a pork roast in the bin whole and expect the larvae to digest it quickly), 2) mixed with other materials that can allow larvae to access nutrients quickly (maybe think along the lines of 40:60 mix with veggies being the primary component).  In the end, if done correctly, larvae should be high in protein (40% or more) and fat (30%). Oh! One other thing- avoid highly acidic material. While the larvae can work the material and digest it, they are challenged and will exert a lot of energy to bring it to a more neutral pH.

​I hope this information helps you be successful- but please let me know if there are specific topics you would like covered.  We are here to help.

Until my next post- best of luck and happy black soldier fly farming!!

Author

Jeff Tomberlin, PhD, BSF ecologist
evoconsys.com​