Rearing Methods for the Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae): Table 1
Open accessAbstract
The black soldier fly, Heretia illucens (L.), is a nonpest tropical and warm-temperate region insect that is useful for managing large concentrations of animal manure and other biosolids. Manure management relying on wild fly oviposition has been successful in several studies. However, confidence in this robust natural system was low and biological studies were hampered by the lack of a dependable source of eggs and larvae. Larvae had been reared easily by earlier investigators, but achieving mating had been problematic. We achieved mating reliably in a 2 by 2 by 4-m screen cage in a 7 by 9 by 5-m greenhouse where sunlight and adequate space for aerial mating were available. Mating occurred during the shortest days of winter if the sun was not obscured by clouds. Adults were provided with water, but no food was required. Techniques for egg collection and larval rearing are given. Larvae were fed a moist mixture of wheat bran, corn meal, and alfalfa meal. This culture has been maintained for 3 yr. Maintainance of a black soldier fly laboratory colony will allow for development of manure management systems in fully enclosed animal housing and in colder regions.
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Chicken feed mixed with water (60-70% moisture content) is suitable for rearing BSFL.
“Chicken feed mixed with water (60–70% moisture content) was used as an attractant and rearing substrate for house flies, and studies have shown that it is also suitable for rearing BSFL [71,72].”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [72]
Females lay eggs in small, dry crevices near the actual oviposition substrate that is often wet and humid.
“Females lay eggs in small, dry crevices near the actual oviposition substrate that is often wet and humid (Sheppard et al. 2002).”
From Beyond the Black Box: Reproductive Strategies of the Black Soldier Fly as a Model for Bridging Evolutionary Biology and Applied Entomology (2026) · cites this paper as Sheppard et al. 2002
Cites
Lekking Behavior of the Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)
Tomberlin, J. K., & Sheppard, D. C. (2001) · The Florida Entomologist · doi:10.2307/3496413 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
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Barragan-Fonseca, K. B., Dicke, M., & van Loon, J. J. A. (2017) · Journal of Insects as Food and Feed · doi:10.3920/jiff2016.0055 · Cited by 771 · see citing works
The use of fly larvae for organic waste treatment
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Self-citationDevelopment of black soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae fed dairy manure
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Bioconversion of Three Organic Wastes by Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae
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“Once colony methods were published (Sheppard et al., 2002) less than a decade later, a paradigm shift occurred, and the industrialisation process was viable.”
Self-citationHermetia illucens (L.) larvae as chicken manure management tool for circular economy
Bortolini, S., Macavei, L. I., Saadoun, J. H., Foca, G., Ulrici, A., Bernini, F., Malferrari, D., Setti, L., Ronga, D., & Maistrello, L. (2020) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121289 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
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Self-citationBasri, N. E. A., Azman, N. A., Ahmad, I. K., Suja, F., Jalil, N. A. A., & Amrul, N. F. (2022) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods11172664 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Optimization of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) artificial reproduction
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Self-citationBioactive Compounds from Hermetia Illucens Larvae as Natural Ingredients for Cosmetic Application
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“Larvae from both strains were fed wheat bran and wheat flour at a ratio of 6:4 (w:w, final water content: 60–70%), on the basis of the standard scheme established by Sheppard et al.[12].”
MethodGlycine-acyl surfactants prepared from black soldier fly fat, coconut oil and palm kernel oil.
Verheyen, G. R., Theunis, M., Vreysen, S., Naessens, T., Noyens, I., Ooms, T., Goossens, S., Pieters, L., Foubert, K., & Miert, S. V. (2020) · Current Green Chemistry · doi:10.2174/2213346107999200424084626 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Genetic differentiation in domesticated black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) populations
Silvaraju, S., Loh, R. K., Kittelmann, S., & Puniamoorthy, N. (2025) · BMC Biology · doi:10.1186/s12915-025-02480-9 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Lemke, N. B., & Puniamoorthy, N. (2026) · Evolutionary Applications · doi:10.1111/eva.70249 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Females lay eggs in small, dry crevices near the actual oviposition substrate that is often wet and humid (Sheppard et al. 2002).”
Influential
- Authors
- Sheppard, D. C., Tomberlin, J. K., Joyce, J. A., Kiser, B. C., & Sumner, S. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Georgia (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Medical Entomology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2002-07-01
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 695-698
- ISSN
- 0022-2585 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-2928
- OpenAlex
- W2103929054
- Cited by
- 479
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 38 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 1.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Journal of Medical Entomology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect Utilization and Effects
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect behavior and control techniques
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Diptera species taxonomy and behavior
- Keywords
- Hermetia illucens, Stratiomyidae, insect rearing, laboratory colony maintenance, manure management, biosolids, mating, egg collection, larval rearing, artificial diet, greenhouse rearing
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Husbandry, Diptera, Female, Larva, Male, Oviposition, Pupa, Sexual Behavior, Animal
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