Comments on: The Beast-12-7-12

By: Bentley

Bentley — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:05:46 +0000

ONEMAN – The “slop traps” are ALL-SYSTEMS-GO – and they’re working like a charm! lol
It’s all in HOW you do it! Without my trusty freezer I agree it would be a dangerous route. Important to remember though that it takes days for these flies to produce offspring (capable of flying away).
Will write more about this in an upcoming post.
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BEN – keeping systems filled with bedding is a helpful strategy no matter what since it offers the worms lots of valuable “buffer” zone habitat. In this case, though, I AM also trying to suppress the scuttle flies a bit, and I just want to feed the worms SOMETHING! (itching to really start using this system – haha)

Now – as far as NOT adding lots of bedding (something I’m thinking about doing now as a bit of an experiment) – the potential advantage is that there should be less habitat for the scuttle flies to colonize, so perhaps the worms will have an easier time outcompeting them.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:35:56 +0000

Hey Bentley, I’ve noticed you tend to keep your vb48 almost completely filled. Is that more to keep a lot of bedding on top to deal with scuttle flies, or do you routinely run the 24/48/96 style flow throughs 3/4 or more full? Is there any advantage to NOT filling it completely with bedding?

By: ONEMAN

ONEMAN — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 23:33:25 +0000

Just to but into the right class. If we blacked out the sun forever then there would still be mycelium!!! and i thought ants bees and worms were cool?

By: ONEMAN

ONEMAN — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 23:17:15 +0000

Wow Thanks. I was waiting for the day you said mycelium, plural Mycelia, it will take you into a world that is bigger and deeper and older than anything you have ever seen. It will blow you away ( been studying for 3 years now and still a beginner ) It’s bigger than you could ever imagine, Out of this world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the mass of branched, tubular filaments (hyphae) of fungi. The mycelium makes up the thallus, or undifferentiated body, of a typical fungus. It may be microscopic in size or developed into visible structures, such as brackets, mushrooms, puffballs, rhizomorphs (long strands of hyphae cemented together), sclerotia (hard, compact masses), stinkhorns, toadstools, and truffles. At a certain stage it produces spores, directly or through special fruiting bodies.

This will and always will rule the world. I would just like you to dig a bit deeper.

Nematode worm liquid. is great for slugs over here. The funny part is they tend to know what is going on so become very active and reproduce fast , after a application or two so i think the flies must have the same inclination ? Never found the vinegar traps much good, but did find the beer traps worked great with both slugs and flys. Come off it what would you prefer??? Sharp vinegar or nice beer?( do not forget the drop of washing up liquid in each trap) The slop trap thing sounds dangerous and i would get rid of it straight away. I think the smell should tell you every thing! do not go there. Bad idea.

Thanks for the Nematode worm bit, but i am sure they know that they are going to die and just try to do natural things faster.

Regards

Chris