Black Soldier Fly

Description:

Wasp-like abdomen with black dusky wings that are tucked nicely on the back at rest; black thorax; two antennas projecting from the head; two ommatidums like those of flies; and six legs like those of a Hexapod.

Habitat:

Resting on surfaces, but mostly found on flora and vegetation resting.

Notes:

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L., 1758 (Scientific name is Italicized) is not scary or dangerous but actually has many benefits especially to the agricultural industry during its larval stages. This friendly-lazy black fly is not a pest and also does not cary any disease. They are part of the Stratiomydae family (Soldier Flies) in the Diptera Order (Two Wings) that have a pair of black-colored wings, tucked nicely on their backs; two long antennas; and a misleading abdomen that looks like those of a wasp. The adult form loose their mouth parts making them unable to bite and just hang around vegetation and flora; not only because they are weak fliers, but also that they are just waiting for females to come by! (Females are larger than males because these flies exhibit Sexual Diphormism). When a male rests on a specific spot, that means that it is his own territory. So, when another male comes to visit, it will surely end up in an air battle. Male black soldier flies are polygynous, meaning that they will mate with a lot of females; happily doing their own thing. They mate inflight but also copulate at rest. Then, the female oviposits their eggs on holes, cracks, or decomposing matter, carrying out their life cycle. ~You can ID these species because I only Google Lensed it and tried to find similar pictures. (Which is not methodological) ~Top Picture is from the Internet compared to the Bottom Picture, which I shot with my iPhone. ~This fly can win any staring contest :) SOURCES: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/.../...... http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/.../lives.../b... https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Her...