title: Development of the black soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in relation to temperature.
abstract: The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L., was reared on a grain-based diet at 27, 30, and 36 degrees C. Survival of 4- to 6-d-old larvae to adults averaged 74-97% at 27 and 30 degrees C but was only 0.1% at 36 degrees C. Flies required a mean of approximately 4 d (11%) longer to complete larval and pupal development at 27 degrees C than at 30 degrees C. At 27 and 30 degrees C, females weighed an average of 17-19% more than males but required an average of 0.6-0.8 d (3.0-4.3%) longer to complete larval development. At both temperatures, adult females lived an average of approximately 3.5 d less than adult males. The duration of larval development was a significant predictor of adult longevity. Temperature differences of even 3 degrees C produce significant fitness tradeoffs for males and females, influencing life history attributes and having practical applications for forensic entomology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. jktomberlin@ag.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Jeffery K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tomberlin
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: Heidi M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D013696:Temperature