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Photo#540710
Black soldier fly - Hermetia illucens

Black soldier fly - Hermetia illucens
Alameda County, California, USA
July 5, 2011
Size: 15-16 mm bl
This fly settled on a wall of the compost bin, afternoon, and began a grooming session. Here it isn't doing anything in particular, just posing nicely for a dorsal shot.

Despite what the guide page says, this specimen didn't buzz when flying. Either it hadn't read the guide page or it was practicing stealth flight, and getting pretty good at it, too. However, when it flew close to me, it stirred up so much air that I could feel a breeze.

Images of this individual: tag all
Black soldier fly - Hermetia illucens Black soldier fly - Hermetia illucens Black soldier fly - Hermetia illucens

Buzzing
Mine set up a loud BZZZZZT from its perch when disturbed -- in preference to flying off, which it seem disinclined to do.

 
Only silence here
That's interesting. I've seen a few of these, and they've never "sung."

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