Black Soldier Fly vs Aquatic Snail-killing Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Black Soldier Fly Aquatic Snail-killing Fly
Scientific Name Hermetia illucens Sepedon sphegea
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Stratiomyidae Sciomyzidae
Size 15-20 mm 5-9 mm
Habitat Underground Wetlands
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions North America, South America, Central America, Asia, Oceania North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Black Soldier Fly

A large, wasp-like fly with a shiny black body and translucent areas on the abdomen. Its larvae are extraordinarily efficient at converting organic waste into protein and fat.

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Did You Know?

Black soldier fly larvae can reduce food waste mass by 95 percent in days, and the resulting protein-rich larvae are increasingly farmed as sustainable animal feed.

Aquatic Snail-killing Fly

A slender marsh fly with a distinctly pointed abdomen and yellowish-brown coloring. Larvae are aquatic predators of freshwater snails, attacking them underwater.

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Did You Know?

A single larva may consume multiple snails during its development, making it an effective natural snail control agent.