Impact of Adult Age on the Reproductive Output of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Abstract

The primary strategy for colony maintenance of the black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, tends to be a continual release program in which newly emerged adult BSF are consistently introduced into a breeding cage with older individuals. Four treatments consisting of an equal sex ratio of the following combinations were used: 2-d-old males with 2-d-old females (YMYF); 6-d-old males with 2-d-old females (OMYF); 2-d-old males with 6-d-old females (YMOF); 6-d-old males with 6-d-old females (OMOF). Data collected include number of total mating and ovipositing events observed, eggs collected, and hatch rate, as well as distribution of each over time. YMYF having 2.2X more observed mating than YMOF and 2.7X more observed mating than OMOF. Approximately 97.8% of all mating observed on days 1-5. Age was not a significant factor for total number of oviposition observations. Adult age was not a significant factor for total number of eggs produced.