Comments on: Mosquito Dunk Fruit Fly Fungus Gnat Update

By: Bentley

Bentley — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:28:22 +0000

Hi Julie – sorry for delay responding. That is REALLY interesting. So you are saying that this has reduced a fruit fly (or gnat) population that you already had? Or do you mean that it seems to be preventing them from becoming established in the first place?

I still don’t seem to be having much luck with dunk water myself – definitely not too optimistic at this point.

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:44:02 +0000

I use the dunks by just adding a portion of them to a watering can and then sprinkle the bin a little each time I mix up the bed. Works wonderful, I am told it is totally natural and…my worms are fine.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:23:19 +0000

Interesting way of putting it, Selene (the “warm and well-fed” part made me smile), and again I DO understand where you are coming from. I don’t want to seem like I don’t care at all about the welfare of my worms, and my intention is not to start a debate (although, as mentioned, I do find all of this very interesting).
When it comes down to it, I find it very hard to believe that anything from a mosquito dunk could actually kill a worm – the bacteria are very specialized for a certain group of insects, and of course there can’t be any sort of toxic chemicals in the dunks since they would either kill the bacteria, and/or kill other creatures in the water (apart from insect larvae) thus not living up to the promise of being ‘harmless’ to other organisms.

By: Selene in Florida

Selene in Florida — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:40:46 +0000

Okay Bentley, you made your point, sort of. BUT…all the invertebrates that I’ve killed on purpose were NOT creatures that I’ve welcomed into my home and kept warm and well fed. They’re not ones that I’ve worried about when something went amiss with their environment. I HAVE welcomed black soldier fly larvaes in as well, so if you had been trying to kill those I would’ve balked also!

Anyway, like you said, we’ll just wait and see how it goes. And I also agree with how you’d ultimately do it. I’d just grab a handful (while I looked the other way), and use that too.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:31:24 +0000

Hi SELENE – I was wondering if my post would end up eliciting any disapproving responses. This is an interesting issue in general – something worthy of discussion in its own right.
I am still not 100% sure what I am going to do – I have yet to see any real indication that the dunk liquid is even harming the fruit fly larvae.

Speaking of which, while I totally understand where you are coming from here, my question to you would be – have you ever harmed invertebrates on purpose?

Ever smacked some mosquitos? Killed some ants? Drowned some slugs?
Its funny how nobody is concerned about the poor gnat and fruit fly larvae here!

OK, so I am just having some fun with you Selene. I can assure you that if I DID end up setting up a small test system with worms, there would be no specific “selection” process. I would simply grab some material (containing worms) from one of my bins.

Anyway – let’s wait and see if my fruit-fly mass-murder experiment works first!

By: Selene in Florida

Selene in Florida — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:44:23 +0000

Okay, if you don’t know if this is gonna be lethal to your worms you’re gonna have to try it out on a few to see, right? So tell me, fellow lover of wormies… just how are you gonna pick out the ones to be possibly sacrificed and how do you think it’ll make you feel to see that you’ve killed some of your babies, if worse comes to worse?
I know you’re doing this for the greater good and for all of us that follow your blog with great interest, but seriously… I just couldn’t do it myself. I’m WAY too much of a wuss and WAY too attached to my squirms.
WOW! I’m not normal, am I?

By: Bentley

Bentley — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:57:17 +0000

I am definitely interested to see how it turns out as well! If it actually works, I’ll be very excited that’s for sure!

COLE – Are you on my newsletter email list? I just sent out a newsletter issue all about fruit flies, with a handful of suggestions for getting rid of them. Feel free to drop me a line if you didn’t get that I I’ll forward you a copy.

By: Jillian

Jillian — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:18:37 +0000

I’m really interested to see how this turns out. Our local mosquito abatement program uses chunks of the mosquito dunks in local ponds to knock out the population without harming wildlife. They even put pellets in the grinding stones common around here at Native American village sites. I have a problem with them because I brew my own vinegar and kombucha as well as worm farm inside the house. Luckily we usually can keep it under control by immediately putting food away, keeping food in the bin covered and monitoring feeding levels, and taking the trash out often.

By: Cole

Cole — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:49:56 +0000

Bentley,

Great website!!! I’m a vermicomposting newbie; I started with 150 worms in April 2009, and now I have a thriving herd thanks to what I’ve learned here at RWC!! I’ve read every article that you have posted, but I must say I’m REALLY looking forward to your updates on the mosquito dunk experiment. Fruit flies have taken up residence in my basement and my wife will throw a fit (along with my worm bins) if she ever finds out about it (luckily she doesn’t venture into the basement too often).