clothes hamper bugs (sawflies?) - Hermetia illucens - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Stratiomyomorpha » Soldier flies (Stratiomyidae) » Hermetiinae » Hermetia » Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)

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Copyright © 2012 skyblustar

clothes hamper bugs (sawflies?) - Hermetia illucens

Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas, USA

I found these larva when I was preparing to do laundry. They were mixed in with our dirty clothes. I'm not sure where they came from, how they got inside or why the adult chose our clothes hamper (dry). I've seen them outside randomly but never this way. I waited to see what came out of the larva stage which took about 4 days, I think.

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Contributed by skyblustar on 13 September, 2012 - 12:47am
Last updated 13 September, 2012 - 11:28pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Eric R. Eaton, 13 September, 2012 - 11:28pm

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Black Soldier Fly adults and larvae…

They live and breed in compost, etc., so a female's eggs may have been laid among the clothes accidentally.

See reference here.

… Ross Hill, 13 September, 2012 - 1:03am

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Seems about right..

Thanks. It doesn't explain the why, but I understand what they are. Still not sure how they start out (the size of the larvae).

… skyblustar, 14 September, 2012 - 12:10am

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Not likely.

These larvae are pretty far along so they must be feeding on something and it wouldn't be clothes. Perhaps there is something that was close by that they moved from.

Either way they aren't anything you need to worry about.

… Natalie Hernandez, 13 September, 2012 - 12:15pm

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Thanks

I saw them as larvae. Then to see what hatched, I put them in the cup.

… skyblustar, 14 September, 2012 - 12:01am

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Not suggesting that…

I know that the larvae do not feed on clothes. I'm just suggesting that soiled clothing is a possibility (while trying to be discreet). Capeesh?

… Ross Hill, 13 September, 2012 - 5:28pm

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Yeah I got that...

And I'm suggesting that they look around for another food source, unless the clothes are REALLY soiled.

… Natalie Hernandez, 13 September, 2012 - 9:44pm

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I appreciate that..

However, no, they're not THAT bad. Only a couple days, and no holes. Very strange.

… skyblustar, 14 September, 2012 - 12:03am

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