Unexplored Potentials of the Black Soldier Fly: Behavioral Ecology, Reproductive Efficiency, and Ecological Contributions

Dear Colleagues,

Insects and, particularly the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.), have attracted a lot of attention for their uses in waste management and as a sustainable supply of protein, presenting potential for creative study. By analyzing how environmental elements like light spectrum, temperature, humidity, and even auditory or vibrational signals impact their behavioral ecology could maximize black soldier fly breeding efficiency. Furthermore, more focus should be placed on the wellbeing and lifespan of insects; studies on physiological markers, such as oxidative stress levels, or stress indicators, such as movement patterns, may yield important information for enhancing productivity and survivability. Studying their diets, in particular how changes in nutritional input impact their fecundity, egg viability, and lifespan, is another exciting approach that could improve reproductive results through customized feeding schedules. Additionally, investigating the ecological functions of the black soldier fly, including its interactions with local species and potential pollination contributions, may deepen our understanding of their environmental significance. Advancement in our knowledge in these fields advances ecological and entomological science more broadly, while also improving insects’ management systems for industrial use.

Dr. Sihem Dabbou
Dr. Marco Meneguz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.