Compost-associated
Guides
Exaireta spinigera
garden soldier fly, blue soldier fly
Exaireta spinigera is a soldier fly native to Australia that has been introduced to New Zealand, Hawaii, North America, and Europe. The species is recognized by its black body with violet undertones, four yellow-tipped spines on the scutellum, and metallic abdominal sheen. Adults are diurnal and active primarily in autumn and spring, with larvae inhabiting decaying organic matter including residential compost. The species has attracted research interest as a potential bioconverter of food waste due to its ability to process organic material at cooler temperatures than the more commonly studied black soldier fly Hermetia illucens.
Gabronthus thermarum
Gabronthus thermarum is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) originally described from Europe in 1850. The species has become widely distributed through human activity, with established populations across the Palearctic region and numerous introductions to the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. It is frequently associated with warm, moist environments including compost, manure, and decomposing organic matter. Its successful global spread makes it one of the more broadly distributed members of the genus Gabronhus.