Small-scale rearing of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), in the laboratory: low-cost and year-round rearing

The large-scale rearing of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.), to obtain fertilized eggs is not conducive to the collection of information on oviposition by and survival of adult flies. To obtain this information, we raised 100 adults each within small cages (27 x 27 x 27 cm) in the laboratory with either supplementary light-emitting diode (LED) lighting or 2 h of sunlight per day. We obtained fertilized eggs in both light treatments. Although sunlight enhanced the proportion of fertilized eggs, the patterns of oviposition were similar in both treatments, and there were no significant differences in the total numbers of egg clutches and oviposition periods. To examine effects on adult longevity, we fed newly emerged adults sugar and water, water only, or nothing. Sugar increased longevity to 3 times in males and 2 times in females compared to water alone. This small-scale rearing method would help to maintain cultures of the black soldier fly throughout the year in the laboratory at low cost.