Environmental Entomology (2009) 38, 930-934

Jeffery K. Tomberlin, Peter H. Adler and Heidi M. Myers (2009)
Development of the black soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in relation to temperature
Environmental Entomology 38 (3), 930-934
Abstract: The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L., was reared on a grain-based diet at 27, 30, and 36°C. Survival of 4- to 6-d-old larvae to adults averaged 74-97% at 27 and 30°C but was only 0.1% at 36°C. Flies required a mean of ~4 d (11%) longer to complete larval and pupal development at 27°C than at 30°C. At 27 and 30°C, females weighed an average of 17-19% more than males but required an average of 0.6-0.8 d (3.0-4.3%) longer to complete larval development. At both temperatures, adult females lived an average of ~3.5 d less than adult males. The duration of larval development was a significant predictor of adult longevity. Temperature differences of even 3°C produce significant fitness tradeoffs for males and females, influencing life history attributes and having practical applications for forensic entomology.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Peter H. Adler

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Hermetia illucens (competitor)