Why are there Sticks and seeds in my bag? – I paid for grub!

While every effort is made to clean and sift our grubs before sale, sometimes the odd bit of frass or stick gets through. To compensate for this, each bag has an extra 10% of the overall grams of dried larvae added.

Why do my live grubs seem to be shedding their skins?

This is a natural part of the lifecycle – in fact, the grubs will shed their skin 6 times from hatchling to fully grown. This skin still provides nutrition for your birds and will not affect the quality of the product.

Why are my live grubs turning brown? 

This is a natural part of the lifecycle, too- when the grubs are fully grown and nearing the end of their grub life, they turn brown. This doesn’t mean they have died. They can be brown and still good for your pet to eat.

Why did all my fresh grubs die overnight?

They are probably just sleeping. When the temperature drops, they go dormant – take them out into the sunlight and watch them come alive again. We do recommend not storing them in the refrigerator, though, as extended periods below 10 degrees C will likely kill them.

The dried grubs smell like bacon. Can I eat them?

While research is underway to see if these are made fit for human consumption, we strongly advise not consuming these yourself. They are made for pet food only.

How long do my grubs keep on the shelf?

At the time of packaging, we put a six-month best-before date on them. After this time, they may begin to go stale or rancid due to the high fat content. Our resealable, foil-lined bags ensure the product stays at its best for extended periods. You may receive a package with less than six months of shelf life left. We work on grub time, and we cook them when they are at the right size. Stock is rotated, and orders are filled with the stock that is on hand. In some instances, we may heavily discount “soon to expire” items.

What if some of the grubs escape into my garden? Are they safe?

The black soldier fly is considered a harmless insect, and its larvae (grubs) are only interested in eating decaying organic matter. If any get loose, there is a chance they will pupate into a fly and attract birds and lizards into your garden.

What do you mean by “full circle bio-conversion”?

It means we use natural products that are usually going to waste and landfill, and turn them into something useful. We are currently partially powered by solar (soon to be 100%) - and use collected rainwater wherever possible in our processing/raising. We also use biodegradable cleaning agents in our day-to-day operations. The frass (think worm castings) that is excreted is turned into a natural organic fertiliser. We even plan to use the grubs to heat our water through their natural metabolic processes.

If you are so environmentally friendly, why are you using plastic bags?

At the moment, we cannot source a suitable bag or container that meets all our requirements for packaging/durability (think smell or the grubs eating their way out). Any suggestions would be welcome.

Why should I buy your product? – I can get it cheaper on eBay.

That may be the case, but do you know what your grubs are fed and what they may pass on to your chickens and eggs? Do the other suppliers give their grubs time to digest and pass all their food before packaging, or are you paying extra weight for dried grub poo? Aside from all that, you are supporting a local Riverland business, promoting sound environmental practices, and helping local businesses deal with their waste.

Why do my chickens seem to attack me every time they see me coming with these grubs?

Yes, that appears to be our experience too – just remember they are a tasty treat and should not be used as a sole source of nutrition for your birds. Keep the bag held high, or hide it behind your back as you approach the yard.

Will the grubs cause problems with fruitfly in your region?

We are working closely with PIRSA to dispose of dropped fruit and discourage outbreaks of fruitfly. Research has suggested that once soldier fly larvae establish themselves, they tend to drive off or discourage other insects.

I have heaps of chickens, can I bulk buy them cheaper?

Yes – ask us about discounts for bulk buying our live larvae.

Will they make my chooks sick?

Our processing meets and exceeds current industry practice in processing our grubs.

The grubs are washed several times, and the dried/ cooked variety you ask? - they are blanched, then cooked which drastically reduces any harmful organisms.

I heard the larvae can be fed to reptiles, frogs, fish, and other birds

Watch this space – we are developing products to cater to other animals, but at present we are focused on poultry and fishing bait.

What else can these incredible animals be used for?

The larvae love to eat chicken and pig manure, and can rapidly turn huge piles of smelly waste into very small piles of not-so-smelly waste. We are in talks with local growers/farmers to see how we can make this happen.

Can I get help clearing fruit off my block too?

Get in contact with us – If you live in the Riverland area, there’s a chance we could help each other out. We collaborate with PIRSA where we can.