Forked Tree Ranch produces flies that are successfully pollinate vegetable crops including onions, carrots, radishes, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, buckwheat, sunflowers, garlic, peppers and canola. Blue Bottle flies are shipped to you in the dormant (pupae) stage and will hatch within 48 hours at 80 degrees F. 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. Although meat fly by nature, it loves the nectar of flowers. 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.

• Blue Bottle flies are carefree - they work in small areas (selfing cages) whereas bees tend to get depressed.

• 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.

• Life span in ideal conditions is up to a month.

• 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

In the off-season, our flies are being used successfully in greenhouses for many types of vegetables and canola.

They are also being used to increase production of vegetable crops grown in greenhouses, such as tomatoes and peppers.

Our Pre-packaged Disposable Pollinators are packaged in paper bags and are available in several sizes at a cost of $0.30/per bag (plus the cost of pupae).

You may also special order pupae packaged in boxes. Our 3"x2"x2" box will contain up to 1/2 cup of pupae and are $0.50/ea (plus the cost of the pupae). Our larger box (6"x4"x2") is available at $0.75/ea. Because box pollinators are a special order item, they must be ordered in advance.

These boxes/bags have been tested for 2 years successfully, the advantages are:

•Pre-packaged incubator

•Pre-measured—Guaranteed quantities

•Protection from the elements and chemical residues

•Labor savings– only onsite labor necessary is placing the box into the cage and lifting the lid slightly

•Less stress in shipping—-successfully shipped in hot weather without insulated box.

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.

We don't require a contract. To guarantee amounts required, we ask the plant breeders to give us a projection of their needs 2 weeks in advance. You will want to have some fly pupae on hand before you actually need them, but they can be stored for several weeks at 40 degrees F. (CARE INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE SHIPPED WITH ORDERS.)

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.