“I found black soldier flies and larvae in my home,” states this reader in her submission. These critters were found in her bathroom, kitchen and on her bed, and our reader asks that we tell her how to get rid of them.

Although our reader does not provide any photos, she does provide a helpful amount of context. She lives in a 1992 RV that is flanked by a pine tree and a pecan tree. She thinks that the larvae are coming from the pine needles that surround her RV, but she adds that they may also be coming from “the black tank” or the “sewage line”. Likewise, she asks us if they could be in her walls, as she tends to have leaks when it rains. It has been taking her some time to repair her wall, and she simply wants these creatures gone as she is not a big fan of bugs.

First of all, we want to note that black soldier flies and their larvae are completely harmless to humans, and while their presence in one’s home is understandably not favorable, we want to stress that our reader needs not worry for her health. In fact, black soldier fly larvae are considered beneficial to the environment and safe to eat. They are one of the many organisms that is able to consume and break down organic matter and convert it to fertilizer. Secondly, we want to assure our reader that we understand her frustration, and we will do our best to help her with her situation.

As the diet of BSFL primarily consists of waste, our reader is not wrong in assuming that they may be coming from the sewage line. If there is indeed a leak in her pipes that the worms are able to get through, then she should contact a plumber.

Likewise, she can also make sure to move pine needles away from the sides of her RV if the larvae are indeed coming from there. Similarly, she should make sure that all of her window screens are in good condition, as the larvae could be getting into her RV this way.

Additionally, she should make sure there is no crumbs or food laying around that would attract these larvae, and that her bathroom and kitchen are consistently cleaned to avoid the build-up of organic matter. Otherwise, we just suggest moving the BSFL that she finds in her trailer back outside; since they are no threat, we do not advise killing them. We seldom advise that in most cases.

To conclude, finding black soldier fly larvae in one’s home is understandably not ideal, but it could be much worse. We hope that the information in this article proves helpful and we wish our reader the best!

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