Black Soldier Fly - Black Soldier Flies

Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus),
Stratiomyidae, DIPTERA
DESCRIPTION

Adult - This dusky-winged, nonbiting fly is 15 to 20 mm long. Primarily black, the female's abdomen is reddish at the apex and has two translucent spots on the second abdominal segment. The male's abdomen is somewhat bronze in color.
Egg - About 1 mm long, the elongate-oval egg is pale yellow or cream colored when newly laid but darkens with time. Each egg mass contains about 500 eggs.

Larva - The black soldier fly larva is plump, slightly flattened, with a tiny, yellowish to black head. The skin is tough and leathery. Creamy white and about 1.8 mm long when newly hatched, the larva develops through six instars, the last of which is reddish-brown. The mature larva is about 18 mm long and 6 mm wide, although some individuals may be as long as 27 mm.

Puparium - The motile pupa develops within the darkened skin of the last larval instar (puparium). The pupa is about one-third the length of the puparium.

North Carolina Extension Integrated Pest Management Program, North Carolina State University, Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695