“What is this creature I found in my house in Coventry, UK?” asks this reader concerning the organism pictured below. The creature in question appears to have a white and gray, thick body, and a square of black sticking out from one end of its body.
No more context is provided, but based on the photo alone, we would guess that this is an underdeveloped black soldier fly larva. Commonly known as BSFL, the black soldier fly larva has made a name for itself in recent years as the future of sustainable cooking and eating. That is to say that these larvae are edible and are rich in protein and other nutrients, and farming them does not leave as big of an ecological footprint as, for example, cattle farming. With that in mind, these creatures are completely harmless.
Usually, black soldier fly larvae are more segmented, and as they grow older, their bodies form a hard ‘shell’: this is why we are a bit uncertain about this identification. The worm our reader photographed appears more wrinkled than segmented, and its skin looks soft and almost papery to the touch (though of course this is merely an assumption). However, if it is indeed an immature black soldier fly larva, then its lack of distinct characteristics may stem from its immaturity.
Like most fly larvae (commonly known as maggots), BSFL feed on decomposing matter, meaning rotting food and faeces. So, our reader should take care to check her home for any spilled food that might be lying somewhere and going bad, as well as any food in her fridge or pantry that might be doing the same. Food debris under and between furniture may also attract them. As long as our reader ensures that she cleans away any such organic matter, then she should not experience an infestation of BSFL. Any other roaming larvae that she finds she can just move outside.
To conclude, we think that the organism our reader found is an underdeveloped black soldier fly larva, though we are not entirely sure of this. We hope that this article helps nonetheless, and we wish our reader the very best.
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