Black lion flies and its larvae

In nature, there are several hundred species of flies, similar in color to wasps. Lion cub (Stratiomyia chamaeleon) - a fly belonging to the order dipterans (Diptera) of the family Lionghorn (Stratiomyidae). It is enough large yellow-black insectwhose body length reaches 14 mm. Outwardly, a lioness is very similar to a bee, especially its flattened abdomen, painted with black and yellow stripes, catches the eye. However, she does not possess sting or poison. Also, the fly has transparent wings and peculiar, having a ring-shaped last segment, antennae. A bright insect lives near water bodies and most often on flowering plants. Of particular interest are brownish gray. fly larvae black lion cub that live in water.

Features of adults

The black lion fly has other names - Hermetia illucens or the black soldier (Black Soldier Fly). There is an insect everywhere: only in the forests of the northern part of Eurasia, such flies live more than a hundred species. Large-scale production of lion larvae in Russia has been established. The natural distribution area is North and South America.

The insect, neither in appearance nor in behavior, is similar to its annoying relatives. Due to the absence, or rather of a poorly developed and designed exclusively for drinking mouth apparatus, the lion fly does not feed at all. The only occupation of an individual born is the continuation of the genus.

For individuals of the lion species, the presence of features of sexual dimorphism is characteristic. Explicit gender differences in males and females are not observed, although the latter are usually much larger. However in most cases size of flies depends on the amount of food consumed by the larva, as a result of which both males and females can have similar biometric indicators.

On a note!

After mating, the female lays from 5 to 8 hundred eggs in places where there is food for her future offspring. What takes no more than 7 days.

Larval Features

After 3-5 days from the eggs laid by the female, small larvae appear on the light, whose body length is about 3 mm. They are white, yellow or light brown in color. Their covers are saturated with calcium carbonate, which serves as a good protection both for the larvae themselves and for the pupae, which subsequently form inside the shell. Larvae usually live in ponds and soil, feed on detritus. Some species live in manure, rotting wood, in nests of ants.

Nutrition

Of particular interest is the process of feeding lion's larvae, which are distinguished by excellent appetite. They feed using the beak-shaped appendix on the small head and two mobile jagged organs resembling brushes. The coracoid process also performs another function: the larva clings to irregularities, which allows it to move along the bottom of the reservoir.

The food for the larvae of the black fly is everything that comes in their way: meat, fish, poultry and pork manure, the latter being more nutritious for them than horse and cow. By the quality of manure processing, the larvae of the black lingonium are superior even to maggots dung flies. Even unfermented fresh products are used, which distinguishes these creatures from annelids. The only thing they don't like is cellulose.In this connection, the worms are given "for revision" compost after the larvae of the black fly lioness.

On a note!

The lion's larvae are characterized by the highest density of population of the substrate. In one garbage can they can be up to 100 thousand individuals, which resembles a huge pile of maggots. Such a quantity in a few hours processes up to 95% of the edible mass.

Development

At the first stage of development, which lasts about two weeks (under favorable conditions), the larvae grow to 5 mm. At the second stage of formation, which takes about 10 days, they almost double in size. At the pre-pupal stage, the duration of which is about 8 days, the larvae of the black fly of the lioness reach 20 mm, change their color to dark brown. Their cover becomes denser and tougher.

The pupation process lasts about 1.5 weeks, as a result of which an adult is born, which mates and lays eggs.

About the benefits

This is one of the useful species of fliesused in agriculture. The black lion cub is an ideal candidate for mass production, as the fly itself and its larva are rich in calcium and are a highly valuable substance and an excellent addition to the main diet of poultry and animals. In addition, in the process of such activities no waste remains, therefore, issues related to the disposal of hazardous organic waste are resolved without problems.

Interesting!

Composting waste using the traditional method takes several years, processing with earthworms takes about 3 months. The larvae of the black lioness, which are bred on food waste and manure, cope with this task in a week.

The larvae of the black soldiers themselves crush the waste, turning them into the smallest particles in the process of digestion. As a result, all nutrients are extracted from the mass of organic waste, and the total amount of waste is reduced by 80%. And the waste itself is no longer such - it is zoogumus (high-value fertilizer).

In the natural environment, individuals at different stages of development become part of the natural diet of fish, so they are often used by fishermen. This food is also a favorite treat of chameleons. He goes to feed reptiles, rodents, bats, aquarium fish, spiders and toads. From the larvae, flour is also made, which is used to add to the feed. Such valuable and useful raw materials are sold by weight.

Another advantage is that the flies are quite phlegmatic: they are very easy to catch, even if they suddenly can leave the terrarium. Black soldiers are not considered as an unpleasant neighbor, since they are not at all attracted to human food and housing.