Fly (Black Soldier)(Hermetia illucens)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Stratiomyidae
Genus: Hermetia
Species: H. illucens
Binomial name: Hermetia illucens
Common names: Black Soldier Fly, American Soldier Fly
The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, is a common and a world widespread fly of the family Stratiomyidae, and quite possibly the best-known species in the entire infraorder. There are several reasons for this:
The larvae are common detritivores in compost heaps, since decomposing matter is their food of choice.
The larvae are used in manure management, for both house fly control and reduction in manure volume, and the mature larvae and prepupae raised in manure management operations are themselves useful as feed supplements.
The larvae are sometimes found in association with carrion, and have significant potential for use in forensic entomology.
Around the world the larvae are sold as live pet food for owners of herptiles and tropical fish, or as composting grubs. They store high levels of calcium for future pupation which is beneficial to herptiles.
This species arrived in New Zealand about 1956 and is common in the North Island during summer and can be seen on wiondows. The soldier fly has no functioning mouthparts and instead spends its adult life in search of mates and reproducing.
A similar fly is the Garden Soldier fly (Exaireta spinigera)
Notice the patterns in the eye
The underside of the fly . Note the halteres behind the forelegs which operate as vibrating structure gyroscopes 
The soldier fly has no functioning mouthparts and instead spends its adult life in search of mates and reproducing.
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