Insect · GBIF taxon 1577153
Black Soldier Fly
Hermetia illucensBlack soldier flies mimic mud dauber wasps with slender black bodies and translucent wing patches, but they possess no stinger and cannot bite. Adults live for only a week on stored larval fat reserves, focusing entirely on finding mates and laying eggs near rich organic material. Their subterranean larvae act as biological engines, consuming their own weight in rotting food waste daily while suppressing pest houseflies.
DecomposerBeneficial InsectWasp Mimic
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Food waste
- Manure
- Decaying vegetation
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Lizards
ThreatsBroad-spectrum insecticide use and extreme freezing temperatures
HabitatsCompost piles, agricultural settings, forest floors, urban waste sites
Life span4–8 weeks (adults live 5–8 days)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderDiptera
- FamilyStratiomyidae
- GenusHermetia
- SpeciesHermetia illucens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Compost Bins: Look for active larvae turning over damp organic kitchen scraps.
- Sunlit Leaves: Spot adult flies basking on foliage near waste bins during warm mornings.
Competitor no rights reserved, uploaded by Richard Fuller · cc0
Close Relative (c) Catherine C. Galley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Catherine C. Galley · cc-by
Image unavailableFamily Member
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