Blue Bottle Fly Pollinators
Fishing Bait Maggots
Blue Bottle Flies
…successfully pollinate vegetable crops…”
Forked Tree Ranch produces flies that are successfully pollinate vegetable crops including onions, carrots, radishes, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, buckwheat, sunflowers, garlic, peppers and canola. Our brood fly colony is a closed colony to prevent any contamination from other fly species. They are primarily used outdoors in tents ranging from selfing cages to 100′ tents/hoops and tunnels.
- The flies have been identified by the USDA, Systematic Entomology Lab in Maryland as DIPTERA Calliphoridae (Ref: TSU Lot #96-8464). Its common name is the Blue Bottle Fly
- Blue Bottle flies are carefree – they work in small areas (selfing cages) whereas bees tend to get depressed.
- Blue Bottle flies are shipped to you in the dormant (pupae) stage and will hatch within 48 hours at 80 degrees F.
- Blue Bottle flies are grown on fish, free from pollen, mold or bacteria, the only contact is the fish and white wood sawdust
- Blue Bottle flies are replacing the use of cutter bees and honey bees in large walk-in cages.
- Blue Bottle flies hatch and “work” at cooler temperatures than do houseflies and bees.
- Blue Bottle flies feed on plant nectar.
- Relatively easy to adjust quantities in cages — more are just a phone call away
- If a bee leaves the tent, he’ll come back with possible contamination, where a fly is gone for good
Our flies are being used successfully in greenhouses year around for many types of vegetables and canola.
They are also being used to increase production of vegetable crops grown in greenhouses, such as peppers and tomatoes.
Blue Bottle fly pupae are available directly from Forked Tree Ranch in small or large quantities year-round. They are only a phone call away and can be delivered the next day via Fed Ex.
APRIL – AUGUST
Due to the pollinating requirements during this time period we request you have a tentative pollinating schedule submitted to Forked Tree Ranch for the current season at least 3 weeks prior to anticipated flowering. We will guarantee amounts required ONLY if scheduling is done beforehand.
We will do our best to meet your needs and we realize that weather is a determining factor on your needs and we are flexible. We have extra in stock each week in the event of a change in weather. Rain, wind or a hot summer day can suddenly change your requirements.
You will want to have some fly pupae on hand before you actually need them, but they can be stored for a week or so at just above freezing.
We would like to suggest that your first order of flies arrive 7 days in advance in case of any delays or freight damage OR early flowering.
PRE-PACKAGED DISPOSABLE POLLINATORS
Our Pre-packaged Disposable Pollinators are packaged in paper bags and are available in several sizes at a cost of $0.50/per bag (plus the cost of pupae).
The advantages are:
•Protection from the elements and chemical residues
•Labor savings– only onsite labor necessary is placing the bag into the cage.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE SHIPPED WITH ORDERS
Blue Bottle Polinators – Fly Pupae
Pollinate vegetable crops including onions, carrots, radishes, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, buckwheat, sunflowers, garlic, peppers and canola.
- 3-7 cups $11.50 per cup
- 8-14 cups $9.95 per cup
- 15-31 cups $8.80 per cup