How did soldier flies get their name?

Soldier Flies. Maill in The Natural History of Aquatic Insects, is that “From the back of the thorax two spines stand out towards the abdomen [this is a characteristic of adults in the genus Stratiomys], and hence the name (Stratiomys), which means the ‘armed Fly.

What is the scientific name of a soldier fly?

Stratiomyidae
Soldier flies/Scientific names

common name: black soldier fly. scientific name: Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus) (Insecta: Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

How do you identify black soldier flies?

It has one pair of wings and two translucent spots located along its midsection, which give it a wasp-like appearance (Figure 1). Black soldier fly larvae are more commonly encountered than adults and can be identified by their large size (as long as the adult), and dark-spined skin (exoskeleton) (Figure 2).

How long do soldier flies live?

about 5-8 days
Keep in mind that black soldier flies only live for about 5-8 days.

Why do black soldiers not lay eggs?

Black soldier flies love mating in early morning where there is good light source. Naturally, the flies will gravitate towards brightly lit corners. During rainy season, although the humidity is good, it may lack some sunlight. In the winter, when they go into dormancy, they may not lay eggs.

Where do black soldier flies lay their eggs?

Unlike other species of flies, the black soldier fly does not lay their eggs directly on the decaying organic material. The black soldier flies like to lay their eggs in cracks and crevices near the organic material since the larvae will then consume this material upon hatching.

How many eggs can a BSF lay?

Egg: A female fly lays between 400 and 800 eggs from which young lar- vae will hatch within four days.

What do black soldier fly eat?

The BSFL feed on many kinds of organic waste such as table scraps, composting feed, and animal manure. They can also survive off of coffee grounds for a few weeks, but coffee grounds are not a sustainable diet.

Do black soldier flies eat meat?

Black soldier fly larvae eat just about anything organic-based or perishable. Decaying fish, meat, animals are good protein sources for the larvae. They often sell rotting fish, bad fruits for cheap.

What kind of flies are in the soldier family?

Wikispecies has information related to Stratiomyidae. The soldier flies (Stratiomyidae, sometimes misspelled as Stratiomyiidae, from Greek στρατιώτης – soldier; μυια – fly) are a family of flies (historically placed in the now-obsolete group Orthorrhapha).

What kind of fly is black soldier fly?

A black soldier fly, or Hermetia illucens is a common and widespread fly of the family Stratiomyidae. BSF is a fly that holds some unique properties. It’s not a pest like the regular house fly, and so it can actually be put to use by humans.

What makes a soldier fly a filth fly?

The larval form of the soldier fly is a segmented, maggot-like creature that can be quite alarming to the uninitiated. Both the larva and the adult, however, are harmless. The most common species of soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, is commonly considered a filth fly because of its habit of breeding in manure and garbage.

Where are soldier flies found in the world?

They are frequently found in compost piles and are being sold by at least one manufacturer for use in specially designed containers to quickly decompose kitchen waste (similar to earthworms in earthworm bins).   Occasionally, soldier flies infest animal carcasses.