Black Soldier Fly

DIPTERA
Order Diptera encompasses about 20,000 species across North America (not including Mexico). These mostly daytime flyers are a common sight during the long summer days across Tennessee on land and near bodies of water. Flies belong to this order and feature sucking mouthparts as well as a second set of full wings - the latter making them excellent flyers. The dreaded mosquito also belongs to the order and females of the species sport blood-sucking mouthparts. Beyond these two, Crane Flies, Gnats, and Bee Flies also belong to the group.

Common Name: "Black Soldier Fly"
Scientific Name: Hermetia illucens

TAXONOMIC BREAKDOWN:
The Taxonomic Breakdown is the scientific way to categorize a partocular insect species from its largest group (Animalia) to its smallest (variable). The Genus and Species categorizations taken together make up the species' scientific name shown above, in this case Hermetia illucens.

Kingdom: Animalia

 Phylum: Arthropoda

  Class: Insecta

   Order: Diptera

    Family: Stratiomyidae

     Genus: Hermetia

      Species: illucens

The Black Soldier Fly has been identified by site users by the following descriptors:

yellow    black    six-legged    winged    wings    flying    outdoors    indoors    buzzing    purple' spots    spotted    eyes    antenna    abdomen

The general likelihood of encountering this insect based on a given month of the year in the state of Tennessee. Generally, the best sighting months are June through August with peak occurring in July.

Below is a representation of the 'smallest-small' and 'largest-large' sizes commonly associated with the Black Soldier Fly. Due to monitor differences, sizes may not be exact on your particular screen. Conversions to millimeters are provided for convenience.

Below you will find the colors most commonly associated with the Black Soldier Fly. Both Primary and Secondary colors are represented in the showcase. Due to monitor differences, colors may not be exact representations.

The Black Soldier Fly can be found in the following Tennessee counties:

Anderson; Bedford; Benton; Bledsoe; Blount; Bradley; Campbell; Cannon; Carroll; Carter; Cheatham; Chester; Claiborne; Clay; Cocke; Coffee; Crockett; Cumberland; Davidson; De Kalb; Decatur; Dickson; Dyer; Fayette; Fentress; Franklin; Gibson; Giles; Grainger; Greene; Grundy; Hamblen; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardeman; Hardin; Hawkins; Haywood; Henderson; Henry; Hickman; Houston; Humphreys; Jackson; Jefferson; Johnson; Knox; Lake; Lauderdale; Lawrence; Lewis; Lincoln; Loudon; Macon; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Maury; McMinn; McNairy; Meigs; Monroe; Montgomery; Moore; Morgan; Obion; Overton; Perry; Pickett; Polk; Putnam; Rhea; Roane; Robertson; Rutherford; Scott; Sequatchie; Sevier; Shelby; Smith; Stewart; Sullivan; Sumner; Tipton; Trousdale; Unicoi; Union; Van Buren; Warren; Washington; Wayne; Weakley; White; Williamson; Wilson.

Credit: Image of a Black Soldier Fly larva.
Credit: Rick W. of Searcy, Arkansas.
This image is original to www.Insectidentification.org; Used with Permission.