Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illuscens)

Description

Black soldier flies are a clean and harmless species of fly native to the southern United States. The adults do not have the ability to eat, and live only a week or two, just long enough to mate and lay eggs for the next generation. The eggs hatch into black soldier fly larvae, or grubs.

BSFL have more calcium than nearly any other reptile feeder available. They also have lots of healthy fats, and pair well with crickets and dubias in rotation. The chitin content of BSFL is high, which is important for gut health. However, it is best to feed higher numbers of smaller grubs to make digestion easier. We feed the Medium size to leopard geckos and similar-sized animals, and large for bearded dragons. The small size is perfect for growing baby lizards.

Can be stored in the warmest part of the refrigerator for weeks, though too much cold can kill BSFL. You can also store at a cool room temperature, such as on a basement floor, though some of the larvae may eventually become mature, when they will turn dark in color. They have the most calcium at this stage, but not all animals find the mature larvae as tasty as the pale grubs. However, the mature grubs will turn into pupae in a few days, and in a week or two after that, they will turn into adult black soldier flies, which are adored by virtually all lizards!