Black soldier fly

Warm, humid areas near decaying organic matter, compost, manure, and food waste; adults often rest on walls and windows.

Adults generally do not feed and rely on larval reserves. Larvae consume decomposing plant and animal material, including manure and food scraps.

Adults are wasp-mimicking flies with smoky wings and typically lack functional mouthparts. Females lay eggs near suitable decaying material; larvae develop rapidly before pupating nearby.

They do not bite, sting, or transmit major human diseases and are essentially harmless indoors. Larvae efficiently recycle organic waste and are used in composting and animal-feed production.