Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Infraorder: Stratiomyomorpha
Family: Stratiomyidae
Subfamily: Hermetiinae
Genus: Hermetia
Species: illucens
Phoenix Worms, also called Soldier Grubs, are the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens).
The black soldier fly (BSF) closely resembles the organ pipe mud dauber wasp, but lack a stinger and is harmless.
BSF are harmless for other reasons as well. Unlike most other flies, they do not have functional mouth parts which means they don't eat or regurgitate on human food. For these reasons, BSF are not associated with the transmission of disease, like some other flies are.
While black soldier flies are found across the United States, most people won't ever realize they have seen them. This is somewhat due to false identification (their likeness to wasps often cause people to simply steer clear of them) or the fact that they are not a nuissance fly. Adult soldier flies have one goal. That is to mate and lay eggs.
Once a female has become laden with eggs, she will begin visiting waste piles to deposit them. She will do so along side the waste pile, and not on it, so that the other insects feeding don't ingest her furture offspring.
Note: You will only find female black soldier flies visiting waste piles. Males have no reason to visit the waste piles since they do not eat and do not lay eggs.
To be continued....
Phoenix Worms | Index
© Herp Center - Richard Brooks
© Herp Center - Richard Brooks