Waste-bioconversion
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.