Albert Cardona

Surprise, surprise: nature does it better: on fertilizer.

Black soldier fly larvae "can consume nearly any kind of organic waste, from food scraps to agricultural byproducts. ... with the larvae consuming up to four times their own body weight* in organic matter everyday. This happens in a fraction of the time required for traditional composting, which can take up to 10 months [usually 4-6 months**]. The larvae's efficiency allows for a rapid turnover of organic material into nutrient-rich excrement – or frass."

"Unlike chemical fertilisers, which often deplete soil over time, frass promotes biodiversity within the soil by introducing a diverse microbial community. This boosts soil resilience, natural plant defence, improves its ability to retain water, and reduces the need for costly synthetic inputs."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20250130-the-little-bug-with-a-big-appetite-turning-organic-waste-into-sustainable-fertiliser

* The original text says "waste", but they meant weight.

** Plus that text has a broken link to https://www.undp.org/india/stories/hail-black-soldier-fly-turning-waste-animal-feed where the 4-6 month figure for traditional compost is mentioned.

@BBCNews you ought to correct these errors.

The little bug with a big appetite turning organic waste into sustainable fertiliser

These tiny soldiers can eat four times their own weight in organic waste – and turn it into sustainable fertiliser.

BBC
Feb 12, 2025 at 8:49amWeb
Show threadAlbert CardonaFeb 12, 2025

@BBCNews Black soldier flies have beautiful eyes, and their abdomens can be bright red:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/130806984

The "ugly" maggots are always hidden away, into soil. Whereas adults are beautiful and sleek, and are quite easy to recognise; with their distribution being worldwide almost certainly there are some near where you are. See a few that I've spotted:
https://www.inaturalist.org/lifelists/albertcardona?view=tree&details_view=observations&taxon_id=82177

#iNaturalist #Diptera #SoldierFlies #entomology #flies

Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)

Black Soldier Fly from Hvar, Jelsa, County of Split-Dalmatia, HR on August 14, 2022 at 02:56 PM by Albert Cardona. Astounding blueish eye. On a lemon tree leaf.

iNaturalist
Show threadAlbert CardonaFeb 12, 2025

The 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.

#SoldierFlies #Hermetia #WaspMimics #entomology

Hermetia illucens - Wikipedia