The waste to wealth company
The Black soldier fly
Nature's way of recycling nutrients
The fly Phase
The fly and its biology
The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) is an omnivorous fly of the Stratiomyidae family. These flies are not considered pests nor vectors of disease, which make their larvae suitable as a source of sustainable protein. The fly is found throughout the world in all temperate zones and is endemic to South Africa.
As flies, the BSF does not have a mouthpart or digestive organs that enable them to bite or feed like other fly species. In this phase, their only purpose is to mate and lay eggs. Shortly after mating, the male fly dies and after laying 400 to 800 eggs the female also dies.
The egg phase
Helpful Data
A single egg weighs about 25µg and in time will grow to a larvae of 0,2g. It takes roughly four days for the eggs to hatch during which time they need to be kept in a humidity and temperature controlled environment near feed.
The larvae
The waste converters
For 14 to 16 days following a 5-day incubation period, larvae will feed on moist organic matter and, on average, grow to a size of 2,5 cm in length and 0,5 cm in width. This stage can be extended up to four months if insufficient feed or environmental conditions are present. The moisture content of organic waste, composition, temperature and sufficient oxygen plays an important role in the optimal development of the fly larvae.