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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008

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Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

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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)

Species Hermetia illucens - Black Soldier Fly

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Black Soldier Fly - Hermatia illucens - Hermetia illucens

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora))

Infraorder Stratiomyomorpha

Family Stratiomyidae (Soldier flies)

Genus Hermetia

Species illucens (Black Soldier Fly)

il is Latin for not, without (1)

luci is Latin for light

Numbers

A dozen spp in Nearctica

Size

15-20 mm length

Identification

Large soldier fly, all black with bright white tarsi. Underneath, first abdominal segment has clear areas. Wings have purplish sheen. Likely a wasp mimic, it buzzes loudly. In particular, it appears to mimic the Pipe-organ mud dauber, Trypoxylon politum, compare the fly on the left and the wasp on the right:

Range

Includes most (or all) of North America--wide ranging in Western Hemisphere, also in Australia, Samoa, Hawaii (where introduced?)

Season

April-November (North Carolina)

Life Cycle

Larvae live in compost, dung, rotting vegetation.

Remarks

Very rarely, accidentally ingested larvae cause intestinal myiasis (presence of living fly larvae in the intestinal tract) in humans and domestic animals. However, larvae compete with house flies in manure, compost piles, etc., and may thus be beneficial. Adults are harmless and not known to carry any human disease.

Print References

Brimley, p. 331 (2)

Drees, p. 211, figs. 226-adult, 227-larva (3)

Salsbury, p. 393--photo (4)

Tomberlin, J., C. Sheppard, and J. A. Joyce. 2005. Black Soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) colonization of pig carrion in South Georgia. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 50(1):152-153

Internet References

TAMU

NCSU

Black Soldier Fly Blog - How many inverts have their own blog??

numerous YouTube videos

Works Cited

1.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms By Donald J. Borror

2.	Insects of North Carolina By C.S. Brimley

3.	A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects By Bastiaan M. Drees, John A. Jackman

4.	Insects in Kansas By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White

Contributed by Richard Leung on 4 October, 2004 - 10:42pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Mike Quinn
Last updated 15 September, 2008 - 6:20am

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