Black Soldier Fly Larvae (NutriGrub) FAQs

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (NutriGrub) FAQs

**ALWAYS OPEN LIVE INSECTS OUTSIDE OR OVER ANOTHER CONTAINER**
Table of Contents

What are black soldier fly larvae (NutriGrubs)?

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL for short) are the larvae of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens. They look like maggots, although segmented with sparse, bristle-like hairs. Despite their appearance, these grubs are popular feeders for pet reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and others due to their high nutrient value and low maintenance needs.

What are other names for black soldier fly larvae?

Black soldier fly larvae go by many different brand names. NutriGrubs are the ones we have here at DubiaRoaches.com, but they also go by "Phoenix Worms®", "CalciWorms®" and "ReptiWorms™".

Phoenix Worms® is a registered trademark of Insect Science Resource LLC. All rights reserved.

CalciWorms® is a registered trademark of Timberline Fisheries. All rights reserved.

ReptiWorms™ is a subsidiary of Animal Specialties Inc. All rights reserved.

Are BSFL good feeder insects?

Yes! They're one of the best feeders for insectivorous and omnivorous exotic pets. They are low maintenance, quiet, and wiggly in a way that is very appetizing to many reptiles and amphibians. Best of all, they are incredibly nutritious.

For best results, use as part of a rotation with other nutritious feeder insects.

What are the nutrition facts for black soldier fly larvae?

  • Moisture — 61.2%
  • Protein — 17.5%
  • Fat — 14%
  • Ash — 3.5%
  • Fiber — 3%
  • Calcium — 9340mg/kg
  • Phosphorous — 3560mg/kg

How do I store BSFL?

Your black soldier fly larvae will arrive in a small plastic cup, buried in substrate. Simply keep them in this container at room temperature, or better yet, in a wine cooler or beverage chiller. Refrigerators are too cold for BSFL, and may end up killing them. There is no need to feed or gut-load your BSFL.

Make sure to remove dead BSFL when you find them.

How long do BSFL last?

If kept properly cool, a cup of BSFL will last a couple of weeks. If kept at room temperature, they will start to pupate before then — black soldier fly larvae that are preparing to turn into flies will turn dark, so it's best to feed those ones off first.

Will my BSFL turn into flies?

They can, if kept at room temperature for too long. Keeping them cool will delay this process. To not end up with flies, however, it's best to only order as many black soldier fly larvae as you can feed off within two weeks.

Can I feed black soldier flies to my pet?

Black soldier flies are edible and quite nutritious, and can be used as an entertaining, unique treat for your pet. Chameleons in particular seem to enjoy the flies. Keep in mind that black soldier flies only live for about 5-8 days.

Do BSFL need to be dusted?

Nope! Black soldier fly larvae are one of the few feeder insects that have a naturally balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. So they can go straight from the cup into your pet's food bowl.

Do BSFL need to be gut-loaded?

Nope!

Do BSFL bite?

Not at all. They are just soft little grubs, and can't harm you or your pet in any way.