Semi-natural feeding

[Joseph Clemens]

I have been using freeze-dried bloodworms, expensive stuff, sold as food for tropical fish. I had been powdering it and sprinkling it on my CP.

I recently invested in a free supply of very similar material. I purchased an electric bug killer. It uses a blue fluorescent light and a high-voltage electrical contacts to lure and kill insects that fly at night. I placed a glass mixing bowl beneath the device and most are still in the bowl the next morning. I must get there before the birds clean out my bowl. Some are just stunned so I put the bowl in the microwave on high for 15 seconds. Then I dump them into a smaller plastic container which I place on my fluorescent plant light ballast to dry them out. Once they are dry I grind them with a coffee grinder, electric. Dry them out a little more and then rub them through the screen I have been using for the freeze-dried bloodworms. So far, so good.

 

[Gawd_oOo]

Hope that coffee grinder doesn't get used for coffee too..

 

[Brian_W]

Greetings,

   I've been doing something similar, although my methods are more primitive.  There's a huge any swarm outside the place where I work.  Early in the morning the sidewalk is completely covered with them.  I use a long stick and touch the ground.  The ants immediately start clinging to it.  I shake the stick into a tall narrow bottle and repeat this procedure until I have a bunch of ants (it doesn't take long).  I cap the bottle and pop it in the freezer.  I take it out after an hour and spread the ants on a sheet in the sun to dry.  I then powder them using a mortar and pestle.  

Brian

 

[LeftCoast]

PinguiculaMan, I saw a post of yours a while ago talking about the dried blood worms. I've been using them for my sticky-leaved cp's and have really been pleased with the results. Unfortunately, being on the coast we just don't have many flying insects here, so this technique has been a great help. My plants and I both thank you!

 

[jimscott]

Joseph, you're a sadist at heart!  

I've been having success with placing banana peels and the like in a cup, with an opened window. Like magic, fruit flies appear. I jostle the cup and the fruit flies jettison in to my greay, sticky plants.