Black soldier flies: Protect the species to feed more animals
Black soldier fly larvae is used in animal feed, cosmetics and shower gel, among other things.
WARREN Dick, a nature enthusiast and professional photographer based on The Bluff, has taken a keen interest in black soldier flies.
“I always see these flies in my garden – their eyes really take my fancy because of the pattern and compound. They are not the easiest insects to photograph as they are quite small, averaging just over a centimetre in length, and it’s not easy to approach them without chasing them off. Their large, compound eyes give them good vision. After snapping good photos of one recently, I did some research,” said Warren Dick.
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According to Warren, the black soldier fly is the most common fly species found in the world. They mimic the look and appearance of wasps in order to avoid being eaten, but they have no stinger, hence they are totally harmless.
Like most other flies, black soldier fly larvae are good detritivores, helping to decompose plant and animal matter. Unlike blowflies and houseflies, they are not attracted to human food unless it is rotting, so these flies are generally not found in a clean kitchen, hence they do not pose a risk of disease spreading to humans.
As an adult, the soldier fly has a limited ability to eat, so they are not very active. Their larvae, however, are generally bigger than that of blowflies and houseflies, hence they eat more and faster, making them better for composting. In fact, black soldier flies are used commercially to compost waste or convert the waste into animal foods.
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Protix, based in the Netherlands, is the largest insect factory in the world, where they farm black soldier fly larvae for aquaculture, animal feed and even for human nutrition. As animal feed, the larvae and pupae can be fed to poultry, fish, lizards and turtles and can even be used for dog food.
They are able to produce a type of grease from the larvae – this grease can be used in cosmetics and shower gel.
Contact Warren to have some of your interesting insects, snakes or spiders identified. Call or WhatsApp him on 072 211 0353 or visit his Facebook page, Warren’s Small World.
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