Albert CardonaThe wikipedia page on black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens, is very well written and comprehensive, with details like:
"H. illucens is a mimic fly" of organ pipe mud dauber wasps, "enhanced by the fly's elongated and wasp-like antennae, pale hind tarsi, and the presence of two small, transparent "windows" in the basal abdominal segments that make the fly appear to have a narrow "wasp waist"."
"An adult female lays approximately 200 to 600 eggs at a time."
"... prepupal migration instinct [towards cool, dark, dry places] ] is used by grub composting bins to self-harvest the mature larvae."
Their large size can even prevent other flies that can produce much worse smells – and potentially carry diseases – by predating upon their larvae: "prevent houseflies and blowflies from laying eggs in decaying matter by consuming larvae of other species."
"Unlike houseflies, ... adult black soldier flies therefore do not spread pathogens or diseases."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermetia_illucens
Entomology ought to be a promoted, taught and valued so much more. Insects pretty much run the world. We ignore them – and destroy them – at our very own peril.
