How to attract Black Soldier Fly to your garden?

Hermetia illucens, or the Black Soldier Fly, is a beneficial insect that can help you recycle your organic waste and produce animal feed. To attract them to your garden, you need to provide them with a suitable breeding site and food source. Here are some steps you can follow:

• Choose a plastic container, such as a storage tote or a bucket, that can hold at least 20 US gal (76 L) of waste. Make sure it has drainage holes at the bottom and a lid to prevent rainwater and pests from getting in;
• Fill the container with organic waste, such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, grass clippings, and leaves. Avoid meat, dairy, fats, oils, and diseased plants, as they can cause odours and attract unwanted flies;
• Place the container in a sunny spot in your garden, away from your house and other plants. The heat and moisture will help the waste decompose and attract the black soldier flies;
• Check the container regularly for signs of black soldier fly activity. You may see sleek, black flies with wasp-like antennae, or fat, white larvae with a grey-black stripe on their posterior end;
• Harvest the larvae when they are fully grown, about 25 millimetres (1 in) long. You can collect them manually, or use a ramp or a pipe to let them self-harvest into a separate bucket;
• Use the larvae as a food source for your chickens, fish, or other animals, or store them in the refrigerator or freezer for later use. You can also use the composted waste as a fertilizer for your plants.

By following these steps, you can attract hermetia illucens to your garden and enjoy the benefits of their waste recycling and feed production.