Understanding BSFL & Soil Biology

Black Soldier Fly Larvae & The Importance They Play in Our Poultry and Soils.

What Are Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL)

The Black Soldier Fly adult is a harmless, non-pest flying insect whose larvae are highly efficient decomposers.  The adult BSF look like wasps, and they don't feed their entire adult life, focusing on laying eggs instead.  The Black Soldier Fly Larvae consume a wide range of waste, converting compost, manure, and other organic materials into valuable resources like animal feed and organic fertilizer, becoming a protein-rich food source for pets, poultry, and fish.  BSFL are an incredible little critter with a sustainable solution for waste management, feed, composting, 

and creating nutrient-rich byproducts. 

Black Soldier Flies generally stay highly localized to their food source and rarely wander far from the area where they were introduced, making them ideal for localized composting.  While the larvae can crawl several yards away from their food source to find a dry, dark, and warm place to pupate, the adult flies are weak fliers that prefer to stay near their breeding site.

Adults look like wasps but have only two wings and no stinger; they are about 7/8-inch long. 

Life Cycle: A short cycle of about 38 days, from egg to larva, pupa, and adult fly.

Larvae are legless maggots that are voracious eaters of organic waste, including food scraps, manure, and plant matter, making them a powerful compost accelerator.

They are high in protein (approx. 35-45% dried), healthy fats (approx. 15-35%), and exceptionally high in calcium

with some reports stating up to 50 times higher than other feeder insects. 

They are softer and easier to digest compared to other feeder insects like mealworms and

are best suited for insect-eating animals such as reptiles, chickens, and ducks.

They also make a surprisingly hardy fishing bait.

Frass is an organic fertilizer that is left over from the BSFL growth cycle.

  BSFL Frass is all natural, nutrient-rich, and contains shed exoskeletons, and remaining substrate.

Frass improves soil health and boosts plant growth, and contains chitin, which helps plants resist pests and disease.

Used in house plants, gardens, and agricultural crops.  It can be mixed directly into the soil, used as a top dressing, or brewed into a "frass tea".   It is considered highly concentrated, so moderate application is recommended. 

EatsDirt™ understands the importance of a healthy diet for our chickens.  To us, our chickens are more like pets than simply farm animals.  We are supposed to be a good steward to our animals which includes making sure they are well cared for with proper shelter, water, and feed. Our products align with this philosophy, and we feel that we bring a high-quality product, at an affordable price, ensuring the ingredients going into our products, are approved for our own flock, as well as yours.