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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Stratiomyomorpha » Soldier flies (Stratiomyidae) » Hermetia » Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)
Photo#22156
Black Soldier Fly - Hermetia illucens
Copyright © 2005 volcano

Black Soldier Fly - Hermetia illucens
Cary, Wake County, North Carolina, USA
June 26, 2005
Specimen was near death inside the house next to a floor vent. I left for about 5 minutes, came back, and the specimen had died about 10ft from it's previous position. 3rd photo shows a white object protruding, what is this?

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Black Soldier Fly - Hermetia illucens Black Soldier Fly - Hermetia illucens Black Soldier Fly - Hermetia illucens
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Contributed by volcano on 27 June, 2005 - 6:00pm
Last updated 27 June, 2005 - 8:49pm

Black soldiler fly.
This is a specimen of Hermetia illucens, the "black soldier fly," family Stratiomyidae. They are wasp mimics, easily passing for the pipe organ mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum). Larvae apparently prey on the larvae of other flies in carrion, so are of some value to forensic entomologists.
… Eric R. Eaton, 27 June, 2005 - 7:20pm login or register to post comments

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