How to get eggs deposited in the egg-collector?

Written by: Seppe Salari M.Sc.

To harvest a high number of eggs, three crucial elements must be in place: high-quality flies, successful mating, and proper egg deposition. The dark cage is designed to produce flies with the potential for high fecundity, and the climate control in the light cage is optimized to provide the ideal conditions for this to occur.

The light cage is divided into multiple microclimates, each designed for a specific purpose. There are zones for separating different age groups into special mating zones, resting zones, and egg-laying zones. The use of LED lights with a fine-tuned spectrum for BSF (black soldier fly) ensures that males are able to find females easily, resulting in a high mating success rate.

Once a female has mated, 36-48 hours later, she will search for a spot to lay her eggs. To make the egg deposition process as efficient as possible, the interior of the light cage has a smooth finish with no crevices that may attract the female to lay her eggs elsewhere. A specialized egg collector emits moist, smelly air which is spread throughout the light cage using airflow. The females are naturally attracted to this spot, which is by far the most attractive location to deposit their eggs. The eggs can then be easily harvested by sliding the egg collectors out of the egg collector rail.

In conclusion, the light cage provides the optimal conditions for high-quality flies to mate and deposit their eggs, leading to a successful egg harvest. The design and technology used ensure that all elements are in place to facilitate this process and to maximize the yield.