Black soldier ßies, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), are of particular
interest for their applications in waste management. Feeding on decaying organic waste, black soldier
ßies successfully reduce manure in conÞned animal feeding operations of poultry, swine, and cattle.
To optimize waste conversion in conÞned animal feeding operations and landÞll facilities, it is
imperative to optimize black soldier ßy development. Unfortunately, black soldier ßies only convert
waste during their larval feeding stages and therefore it is of interest to optimize the nonfeeding stages
of development, speciÞcally, the postfeeding and pupal stages. The time spent in these stages is thought
to be determined by the pupation substrate encountered by the postfeeding larvae. The objective of
this study was to determine the effect different pupation substrates have on postfeeding development
time, pupation time, and adult emergence success. Five pupation substrates were compared: wood
shavings, potting soil, topsoil, sand, and nothing. Postfeeding larvae took longer to reach pupation in
the absence of a pupation substrate, although reaching pupation in the shortest time in potting soil
and wood shavings. The time spent in the pupal stage was shortest in the absence of a pupation
substrate. However, fewer adults emerged when a pupation substrate was not provided.