Hermetia illucens

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Black soldier fly

Hermetia illucens is a medium-sized dipteran in the Stratiomyidae, native to the Neotropics but now virtually through human-mediated spread. are mimics with metallic coloration and distinctive translucent abdominal spots. The is commercially significant for its larvae's ability to rapidly convert organic waste into protein-rich , with applications in animal feed, waste management, and bioremediation. Neither life stage is considered a pest or .

Hermetia illucens by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz. Used under a CC-BY license.Hermetia illucens by (c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tom Field. Used under a CC-BY license.Hermetia illucens Black soldier fly edit1 by Muhammad Mahdi Karim. Used under a GFDL 1.2 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hermetia illucens: /hɛrˈmɛtia ɪˈluːsɛnz/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Appearance

measure 14-17 mm in length with a predominantly black body exhibiting metallic blue-green reflections on the and sometimes reddish coloration at the abdominal tip. The second abdominal tergite bears two distinctive translucent areas, giving the appearance of a narrow waist. The is wide with large, well-developed . are elongated, approximately twice the head length, and wasp-like in form. Legs are black with pale (whitish) . Wings are membranous, dark, and folded horizontally over the at rest. Larvae are creamy-white to gray with a dark gray-black stripe on the end, reaching 25 mm and 0.10-0.22 g at maturity.

Tags

Sources and further reading