Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)

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Paulwhwest Irving (Dallas area), TX(Zone 8a) Aug 19, 2007

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pford1854 Somerset, KY(Zone 6b) Aug 20, 2007

Paulwhwest, Thanks for the info on these bugs. Everytime I opened my compost garbage can, there would be swarms of these 'maggots' feeding on every vegetable scrap I'd throw in there. At first I thought they were gobs of house-fly 'maggots' until I started seeing these 'wasp-like' bugs fly out every time I lifted the lid. Now I know what they are. The 'fly' stage bugs kinda scare me, as I thought that they were some kind of wasp, and I'd find myself running away from them. ha. But, I'm guessing by the pic of one on your finger, that they "do not sting?"
Happy summer.

Post #3876240
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Paulwhwest Irving (Dallas area), TX(Zone 8a) Aug 20, 2007

That's correct; they have no stingers and they are actually great decomposers so in your case I'd say they're probably 100% beneficial. :)

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pford1854 Somerset, KY(Zone 6b) Aug 20, 2007

No doubt about them eating scraps..... I put old tomotoes, watermelon, potatoes, and they went through it all real quick. kinda disgusting. I can't believe you're holding a handful of them. Ha. I see them buzing around my garden now. Thing is, I can't believe how they can continue to live in the compost garbage can, as you know, it gets rather hot in there. Happy summer.

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