Black Worm Brought in on Reader’s Sock is Black Soldier Fly Larva (BSFL)

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We just heard from a reader who found a creature attached to her sock.  She sent a photo along with the following questions: What is it? How did it get inside the house? Do I need to worry about it? How do I make sure I do not see it again?

From the photo, we are able to identify this as a black soldier fly larva. Black soldier fly larvae are often referred to as BSFL, and they are commonly used for composting in farming, especially, because they can convert waste into animal feed! However, people also find these in or around dumpsters or sometimes in the carcass of a dead animal.

We can only guess as to how a black soldier fly soldier larva might have ended up in our reader’s house. Since she discovered it on her sock, perhaps it latched on when she was taking out the trash or going for a walk and ended up back inside. It is also possible that it was feeding on something in her garbage can. She should make sure the garbage can is clean, as well as the areas surrounding it.

She doesn’t need to worry about these larvae, they are not harmful to humans and they don’t usually find their ideal environment in a household. They thrive in damp areas where they can find a food source such as dead tissue or decomposing food. To ensure she doesn’t see these larvae again, our reader should make sure all the garbage bins in her house are kept sanitary, and that old food isn’t left sitting around.

To sum up, a reader sent in a photo of a larva that we believe to be black soldier fly larva, which are commonly used for composting.

 

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Black Worm Brought in on Reader's Sock is Black Soldier Fly Larva (BSFL)
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Black Worm Brought in on Reader's Sock is Black Soldier Fly Larva (BSFL)
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We just heard from a reader who found a creature attached to her sock. She sent a photo along with the following questions: What is it? How did it get inside the house? Do I need to worry about it? How do I make sure I do not see it again?
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Author: Worm Researcher Dori

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