Balancing feed and climate for optimal feed conversion

Written by: Seppe Salari M.Sc.

Successful production of larvae that pupate into fertile flies is a crucial aspect of the fly breeding industry. It requires precise climate control and the right diet to ensure maximum yield. The key to success lies in finding the right balance between these two factors. The diet needs to stay moist for as long as possible to achieve the highest feed conversion, which is essential for the larvae to grow and develop properly. However, once pupation sets in, the diet needs to dry out as soon as possible to provide the larvae a dry spot to pupate and prevent bacteria and fungus from forming, which could harm the pupating larvae.

To control this delicate balance, our dark cage has software that automatically controls this. The cage is designed with sensors that are able to sense the moment pupation begins. Once the sensors notice the pupation beginning, the InsectoControl-unit changes the climatization to facilitate pupation. The InsectoControl-unit ensures that the temperature and humidity are adjusted to the optimal level for pupation, thereby increasing the success rate of the process. This results in the production of heavy and strong flies with a high fecundity, making them ideal for breeding purposes.

The setup of the dark cage and its climatization is done in such a way that it can handle a wide variety of diets and specific requirements. For instance, the moisture content can vary with different diets, and there might be seasonal fluctuations in the diet, which the dark cage can address with the climatization. In addition to moisture content, some diets reach peak temperatures sooner than others, and the climatization must take this into account to provide optimal conditions. The advanced design of the InsectoControl-unit, combined with the dark cage, provides a solution that can efficiently handle different diets and fluctuations, resulting in the successful production of high-quality, fertile flies.