Wild food thoughts

[Warren Beattie]

Hopefully this can be a subject of discussion as well as informing the ill-educated (i.e. me).

A couple of years ago, I used to catch bluebottles (blowflies) and hoverflies during the summer, to feed to my Ts. I stopped because they generally move in the wrong direction for terrestrial spiders (up), but there weren't any visible ill effects from that particular food source.

Now, I'm expecting a few spiderlings and scorplings from different sources, and I'd like to try to breed some small food for them. I've been in my parents' garden, digging up large springtails and what look like fungus gnat larvae (hopefully they might be an alternative to fruit flies, but I won't say so until I prove anything. And, yeah. I chose a great time of year for bug-hunting) But despite my previous wild-food experience, I find myself subject to new neurotic worries.

Parasites. Always a risk - though, as I mentioned, I haven't have much of a problem before. I also take the precaution of nuking any compost/soil/litter, though that can't apply to the collected bugs. But what are your opinions and experiences?

Also, chemicals. The garden is kept as organic as possible, although Roundup has been used once, 4-6 months ago, in certain places. The garden is fairly big (half an acre), and I collected away from the sprayed areas. Secondly, despite online horror stories I've read in my research, I've also read that the stuff is biodegradable within a few weeks.
Also, I'm keeping the collected bugs on exotics-trade coir compost, and I'm using only a minimum of substrate from the garden (a smattering of leaf litter and topsoil).
What say you all?

[Mark Pennell]

Hi
I would not recommend using anything from the garden if you can. You just don't know if they have insecticide in them, you may not use it in your garden but others near by may have!


Try maggots as a food source, these can be ordered online or bought from fishing shops. Keep them in the fridge; this slows down the process of turning in to flies!

Even if they are not taken they will eventually pupate and they the spider gets them second time around.

Cheers
Mark

[Warren Beattie]

The garden joins onto an unused patch of conifer wood/plantation (why it's there, I'll never know), an old, overgrown garden, and a cattle field. But I'll take your advice.

[sarah Smith]

With the cattle field that near I would no way risk it as some farmers spray cattle fields to get the grass there the best for their cows.

[Warren Beattie]

Hmm. I'd have to ask.

It's fairly discouraging, though.

[Richard Gallon]

Suppose it all depends on your garden. Many people have small urban gardens, where you could easily get pesticide contaminated insects crossing the fence. However, even keen pesticide-users will not be using them at this time of year.

If your garden's large (and you don't spray insecticides about), then I think it would be fine to harvest a few worms etc. for your Ts.

However you always run the risk of introducing parasites and diseases (this would be of more concern than pesticides I think).

Cheers,
Richard

[Richard Gallon]

I think you'll be safe with the cattle field at this time of year. Although I wouldn't collect worms close to cow-pats incase the cattle have been treated with wormer. It's unlikely that contaminated worms would cross that far into your garden though.
Richard