First record of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L, 1758 (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) in central and western Senegal

Abstract

The proven effectiveness of the larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L. 1758), in the development of organic waste but also as a replacement protein in animal feed, justifies the growing interest in this species. Despite the number of studies carried out over several decades on its dispersal across the world, datas on its exact distribution are lacking in certain areas such as Africa and non-existent in Sahel countries. This is the context in which this study aims to detect its presence in Senegal. The H. illucens attraction device consists of two rubber trays. The smaller one, with a capacity of 5 liters (L), was filled with 3 Kilogram (Kg) of one of the four chosen substrates and placed in another larger one, with a capacity of 12 L, filled with sand to one-fifth of its volume. On a stick, placed transversely in the middle of the large tank, perch, using a wire, stacked boxes of 7 centimeters long and 4 wide for laying support they all had been covered with a mosquito net and placed in a dark place. In this article, we report the presence of the black soldier fly in two regions of Senegal (Dakar and Kaolack) which belong to two different agro-ecological zones. Indeed, the females were attracted by the substrates on which they developed.