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Hermetia illucens Black soldier fly (BSF)

Flies of this species measure up to 12-20 mm in length and have a wingspan of 8-14,8 mm. They are large, slender, predominantly dark and have intense brown wings.

The flies do not spread diseases as they do not feed in the adult stage of life.
Hermetia illucens is a species that helps to maintain balance in the environment by converting fruit and vegetables into useful biomass.
Healthy for animals - BSF larvae used as feed support the immune system of animals, as they contain lauric acid, thanks to which the use of antibiotics is not necessary.

Insect farming and the impact on the environment

Insects require a suitable microclimate, and such parameters as humidity, temperature (approx. 30°C) and ventilation must be constantly monitored. However, from an economic point of view, it costs 12 times cheaper to obtain wholesome nutrients from insects than from raising other animals. A female housefly lays 750 eggs per week. After a few days, the larvae weigh over 400 times more than immediately after hatching, and after 2 weeks they reach a length of 2 cm. It takes about 2 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of insect mass, while for pigs and cattle, the required amounts are 3 kg and 8 kg, respectively. Only fish and poultry use similar amounts of feed per 1 kg weight gain as insects. However, insect farming carries an additional advantage of reducing environmental pollution. Housefly larvae can reduce the weight of organic waste by up to 60% within 10 days.