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Black soldier flies in chicken coops: benefits, identification, and control

Parasitic diseases

Mosca-soldado-negra, Hermetia illucens.

Hermetia illucens, soldier fly:

Unlike the housefly, the black soldier fly does not usually cause significant nuisance, and its larvae help recycle organic matter.

The larvae and adults of the soldier fly black Hermetia illucens They are very distinctive and easily recognizable. Their presence around intensive animal production facilities is sporadic, but they sometimes appear in large numbers, especially in chicken coops and pigsties.

The antennae of the fly Hermetia black are long, are projected directly forward from the head, and the last (third) segment ends on the tip and lacks an edge.

The wing features a central cell closed and is partially obscured brown. The adults are blue-black, 2 cm in length, and the legs are black with feet-white-yellow. The upper part of the feet of the hind legs is white.

The abdomen has two areas to be clear or translucent dorsally, near the base (second segment).

The soldier fly black, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus), is a fly of appearance elegant, although many people mistake it for a wasp. However, like most flies, black soldier flies have only two wings (wasps have four) and do not have a stinger. Although the loud buzzing sound they make while flying is enough to bother many people, adult black soldier flies pose no danger.

Adult black soldier flies are poor fliers and spend a considerable amount of time resting inside or in the immediate vicinity of the animal production facility.

Often found in areas with more sunny, inns in some structure, and on the vegetation next.

Fly, soldier, photo by Lyle Buss.

A black soldier fly resting on leaves.

synonyms for scientific names :

Musca illucens Linnaeus, 1758
Musca leucopa Linnaeus, 1767
Hermetia rufiventris Fabricius, 1805
Hermetia pellucens Macquart, 1834
Hermetia nigrifacies Bigot, 1879
Hermetia mucens Riley & Howard, 1889
Hermetia illucens var. Nigritibia Enderlein, 1914
Hermetia illucens Copello, 1926

Adults of the soldier fly, family Stratiomyidae, can vary in color from yellow, green, black, or blue, and some have a metallic appearance.

Many are imitators or mimics of other flying insects, such as bees and wasps. They also have two translucent “windows” that identify them, located on the first abdominal segment (see photo).

Adults are 15 to 20 mm of length, and the paws have white coloration near the end of each stage.

Underside, with two translucent “windows” that distinguish it, photo © Peter J. Bryant

Soldier fly eggs:

The females fly Black soldier flies lay their eggs in clusters of about 500 to 900 eggs per group, in nearby cracks and crevices or in decaying matter such as manure, carrion, garbage, and other organic waste.

The female black soldier fly prefers to lay her eggs in the driest parts of the manure. In addition to laying their eggs in cattle and poultry manure, they also lay them in beehives and in unripe bananas in the same plant (in Central America).

The eggs hatch in 4 days at 24 °C (75 °F) and the larvae develop through five stages in two weeks or more. The duration of the larval increases relatively well with low temperatures or lack of food.

The eggs hatch into larvae in about four days. Each egg-shaped oval is approximately. 1 mm length, color, and yellow or creamy-white to pale.

Black soldier fly, mating.

Egg-laying by the black soldier fly

Flies, soldiers, larvae:

The larvae of the flies Hermetia black, being so large and robust, remove the manure and by their activity, make more liquid and less suitable for the larvae of the housefly.

Although the larvae of the fly Hermetia black and the housefly may be found, and co-exist, there are situations in which the larvae of the first can lead to a drastic reduction in the number of larvae of the second.

The presence of an excessive number of larvae of Hermetia black does not inhibit only the development in the manure from the larvae of housefly, but that seems to inhibit also in the oviposition of the housefly adult.

In the manure avian, sometimes there are large populations of larvae Hermetia black. Although these provide, the benefit they do not favor the development of the housefly, the dessert liquefies so the manure avian that make it difficult to extraction, in addition to that it can flow into places to step on or damage the foundations of the chicken coop.

Dorsal view of the sixth instar larva of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus). Source: Bianca Diclaro of the University of Florida

Ventral view of the sixth instar larva of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus), by Bianca Diclaro of the University of Florida.

Fly, soldier, maggots:

Before the pupal stagethe sixth stage, the larvae disperse from the site of power, to dry in protected areas, such as the vegetation of the field, and initiate the pupal stage.

The pupa is formed within the envelope pupal (pupario), formed by the integument of the larva of the last instar, and the pupal stage lasts 2 weeks or more. The exoskeleton (skin) darkens and the pupa develops in its interior.

The adult emerges from the pupario through a fissure in the shape of a T in the previous part.

The life cycle from egg to adult takes 38 days to 29 °C (84 °F) and 60 days at 20 °C (68 °F).

With this long life cycle, in the place of breeding can build up large populations of larvae of various sizes.

The larvae of the soldier fly black, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus), in compost, Source: Lyle J. Buss

Pupa of the soldier fly black, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus), the Source James Castner, Univ. Florida

Economic importance, soldier fly:

The adult soldier fly The black soldier fly is not considered a pest (Newton et al. 2005). Because the larvae have proven to be effective manure recyclers, a “Black Soldier Fly Manure Management System” has been proposed to reduce not only livestock waste but also to provide a food source for fish and other animals.

In a program described in Newton et al. (2.005), with manure from pigs fed the larvae of the black soldier fly, which greatly reduces the waste material. The manure was transferred to a cuvette containing the larvae of soldier fly.

The larvae reduce manure by 50%. Approximately 45,000 larvae consume 24 kg of pig manure in 14 days. As the larvae mature, they crawl out of the basin—effectively harvesting themselves—and are subsequently available as food for birds, fish, and other animals.

In addition to being a good source of protein and oil for animal feed, black soldier fly larvae have the potential to turn organic waste into rich compost.

The following photo shows a soldier fly infested with parasites; later on, I’ll include a section on the flies’ predators—which do exist—that can help us reduce their numbers in our chicken coops and control the most common parasites.

Soldier fly with parasites, mites, and Macrochelid on its thorax and abdomen. Source: © Amir Weinstein

Videos of soldier flies:

The soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) It's the pet food of the future.

Composting with soldier fly blackHermetia illucens). Separation of larvae and pre-pupae.

How to Make a Box for Breeding Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens) at home.

Literature review:

MERCK & CO. (1995). Manual Merck de Veterinaria . Rahway, N. J., EE. UU.

BUXADÉ, P. (1987). The laying hen. Ed. Mundiprensa. Madrid.

DORN, P. (1987). Manual of avian pathology. Ed. Acribia. Zaragoza.

HOFSTAD, M. S. (1984). Diseases of Poultry. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.

MAURER, VERONIKA. Contrôle des mouches des étables. Service romand de vulgarisation agricole (Agridea, Lausanne), CFPPA Montmorot et FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Switzerland).

LOFTIN, KELLYet al. Fly control for Organic Dairies. Cooperative Extension Service. Division of agriculture. The University of Arkansas.

D ASSIS FONSECA, E. C. M. (1968) Diptera: Muscidae. Royal Entomological Society of London Handbook

ROZKOSNY, R, GREGOR. F., & Pont, BC (1997) The European Fanniidae (Diptera). Brno: Institute of Landscape Ecology. Séguy, E. (1923)

DIPTÉRES:Anthomyides. Paris: Éditions Faune de France

ZARZUELO, E. (1982). Vade mecum of the pathology, infectious poultry . Ed. Aedos, Barcelona.

CASTELLÓ, F and CASTELLÓ, J. A. (1960). The new art of raising chickens. Ed. Aedos, Barcelona.

OROZCO, F. (1989). Breeds of chickens Spanish. Ed. Mundiprensa. Madrid.

LACADENA, J. R. (1998). Genetics. Ed. AGESA

GATES, M. J. (1992). Genetics, fundamentals and perspectives. Ed. Interamericana McGraw – Hill.

SANCHEZ-MONGE, E. (1969), Genetics. Ed. Espasa – calpe SA

OROZCO,F, and ROBLA, F. (1986). Genetic aspects of the cock of a Lion. XXIV Symposium of the WPSA (Spanish Section): 199 – 212.

HILL, J. L. (1973). Genetics, general and applied. Ed. UTEHA.

CASTELLÓ, J. A., LLEONART, R., FIELD, J. L., OROZCO, F. (1989). Biology of the chicken. Real Escuela de Avicultura.

LLEONART, F., ROCA, E. CALLÍS, M. GURRI, A. PONTES, M. (1991). Hygiene and pathology avian . Real escuela de avicultura.

STURKIE, NB (1968). Physiology Of Avian. Ed. Acribia. Zaragoza.

LOHMANN ANIMAL HEAFTH (2012)

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