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Abstract Background The black soldier fly or Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: stratiomyidae) is one of the best-known flies all around the world for its nutritional value. This species is originally a new world species and was described in 1758 by the Swedish. They lay their eggs in moist, decaying organic material such as fruits and manure. Larvae are large saprophagous maggots with six larval instars and reach 25–30 mm in length and 6–8 mm in width in the last stages. Adults of Hermetia illucens are black at all body parts except the first abdominal segment, which is translucent, and the feet-like tarsi, which are white. There are several reports of h. illucens worldwide. Methods In northwest Iran, specimens were collected from 36°46'36.9"n 48°27'21.1"e in Zanjan Province, where rice, corn, oilseeds, fruits, and potatoes are cultivated. The specimens were collected from fruit waste decomposing in the field as eggs and larvae and transported to the Shiraz University of medical sciences insectarium. They were reared in the insectarium, and the collected specimens' generation was established in the insectarium. All eggs, larva, pupa, and adult stages were analyzed, and photographs were captured by a sc100 model camera mount under microscope. The specimen was identified using valid identification keys. Results Totally, 362 flies were collected including Abricta curvicosta, Alobates pennsylvania, Bllatela americana, Carabus coriaceus, Chorthippus albomarginatus, Crocothemis erythaea, Hermetia illucens Lasius flavus, Omocestus viridulus, Orius insidiosus, Ospherantera coerulescens, and Topinoma sessile. Conclusions This is the first detection of Hermetia illucens in Iran.
Ebrahim Abbasi (Tue,) studied this question.