Is this Substrate Useful?

The Mantis Menagerie

The Mantis Menagerie

Fresh Imago
I mixed Traeger pellets and flour a couple months ago to make some substrate. My genius idea to keep it hot enough was to put it outside in a black bucket to absorb extra heat from the sun. Rather than stir it, I drilled holes in the bucket, so I could simply shake it to aerate it. It was easiest to drill holes in the top. Therefore, I flipped the bucket upside down. Some pests managed to get past the tiny holes and metal mesh, and while most left when I moved the bucket to the attic, there was still some type of fly larva. The substrate looks fairly well decayed, so did the flies help the substrate decompose or did they deplete the nutrients available to any future grubs? I think another week or two will finish the substrate, but will it be good for grubs?

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There is basically no way to tell whether your substrate is in good condition thanks to the fly maggots just by looking at the picture, especially in nutrition-wise. Fly maggots, or whatever the pest was, are not a good thing to have whether you ferment it, store it, or feeding your larvae. Those maggots will likely escape or die from heats when fermentation is processes. And then probably came back in through those holes. Next time, try drill holes a lot smaller than what you currently have. To have fly maggots, fly must enter through it., meaning the holes were large enough to pass through. Adding a cotton patch (or unwoven fabrics) may help preventing a pest infection as well. When you have light colored spot as well as darker colored spot here and there in your substrate, this means fermentation is not progressed properly due to uneven moisture or aeration. Sometimes, because of additives (wheat flour, etc.) being not properly mixed up with substrate. Try use it. It is usually okay, it is just a matter of whether your larvae grows up rapidly or slowly.

 
The larvae were the size of blue bottle fly larvae, so I think that a female fly laid eggs in the holes. I had the bucket upside down with holes on the lid, so the larvae would not have had to go far to reach the substrate. 

 
Also, @JKim, would you agree that the substrate is about to be ready for Lucanus grubs? As I mentioned in the original post, I plan to give another week or two in my attic, which is very hot, so will that be enough time? 

 
I hate to give my opinion on this but, see how the sub looks whitish in the middle? I discard layers that look like that. If it has a foul, sour stench it is not good to use.

That happens when the substrate becomes too water logged. 

It should have a uniform brown color and smell earthy. 

 
Ratmosphere said:
I hate to give my opinion on this but, see how the sub looks whitish in the middle? I discard layers that look like that. If it has a foul, sour stench it is not good to use.

That happens when the substrate becomes too water logged. 

It should have a uniform brown color and smell earthy. 
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As I said, I think it needs a little more time. Since I moved it to the attic, the amount of that lighter substrate has diminished drastically. 

 
You def could use it, I’ve used late fermented sub like that for them in the past. Just didn’t produce any huge males from it though.

 
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