Replies

  • Ben June 14, 2011 at 11:23am

    Hi Blair,

    Yes these are indeed soldier fly larvae. Usually you'll get them when the farm has rotting food in it that has gone a little anaerobic. The best thing to do is stop feeding the farm new material, gently fork in some browns or fibre to balance the carbon ration a bit better, and let them do their stuff. They will pupate and dissapear after a little while.

     

    If you run your worm farm a little carbon rich by adding fibre each time you feed it, you shouldn't see the soldier flies. Food waste is generally a little rich in Nitrogen to compost without adding carbon, same for a worm farm.

     

    I've found that farms that have higher carbon ratios go better than those that are nitrogen rich. I assume this is also because worms breath through their skin, so anaerobic conditions are very hard for them to tolerate. Also they've evolved in the forest floor, so happy mooching about amongst dead leaves.

     

    Hope this helps, Cheers. Ben

    • Mark > Ben June 14, 2011 at 12:11pm

      Thanks from me also Blair great reply and tips.

       

  • Symon Dynes May 4, 2011 at 6:54am

    Hi Blair,

    Might be Soldier Fly, smaller than the Blow Fly, also great in the break down of compost. Rather then trying to get red of them, let them work for you, the castings they leave are enjoyed by the worms, and we know that a happy worm is a healthy worm.

     

    Symon

    • Megan > Symon Dynes May 4, 2011 at 12:39pm
      thanks Symon, I didn't know about soldier flies and just googled them and looks like they are to be encouraged in our worm bins :)
    • Blair Firmston > Symon Dynes May 4, 2011 at 11:11am

      Thanks Symon, will do.

       

      B

  • Jude Simpson May 3, 2011 at 9:20am
    It has the look of a future cockroach maybe.  They love a warm supply of food, and I have found adult roaches in my farm.
  • Jools May 3, 2011 at 6:16am
    Hi Blair What a coincidence!  I looked in my worm bin today and saw the same little maggoty things and was wondering exactly the same!!  Perhaps they are blow fly maggots?
    • Blair Firmston > Jools May 3, 2011 at 7:53am

      I wondered that too. I had a scout around teh net and there are some pics that do look similar. Yuk.

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