Can You Breed Black Soldier Fly Larvae at Home?
Matt GorenShare
Can You Breed BSFL at Home? Yes, But It Is Not Easy
Breeding black soldier fly larvae at home is technically possible — but it is significantly more complex than breeding discoid roaches or mealworms. Here is an honest assessment of what is involved and whether it makes sense for most keepers.
What You Need
- Warm outdoor space: Adult BSF need to fly, mate, and lay eggs outdoors. They require temperatures consistently above 75-80°F and direct sunlight for mating behavior. Indoor breeding is extremely difficult without specialized lighting.
- A fly cage or mesh enclosure: To contain adult flies for mating while allowing sunlight in.
- An egg collection device: Females lay eggs in small crevices near decomposing matter. Corrugated cardboard or fluted structures attract egg-laying.
- A larval rearing bin: A container with food waste where hatched larvae grow. This is the composting stage.
- Food waste supply: Kitchen scraps, fruit and vegetable waste, grains. BSF larvae consume large quantities.
- Patience: The full cycle from egg to harvestable larva takes 3-5 weeks. Establishing a self-sustaining colony takes months.
Why It Is Harder Than Breeding Roaches
| Factor | Discoid Roaches | BSFL |
|---|---|---|
| Space needed | A plastic bin indoors | Outdoor space + fly cage + larval bin |
| Climate requirement | Room temp + heat mat | Warm outdoor temps + sunlight |
| Year-round? | Yes — indoors | Seasonal in most climates |
| Complexity | Simple — bin + food + heat | Complex — fly mating + egg collection + composting |
| Smell | None | Composting bin can smell |
When Home Breeding Makes Sense
- You live in a warm climate (Florida, Texas, California, Southeast) where BSF can fly year-round or most of the year
- You have outdoor space for a composting setup
- You produce significant food waste and want to divert it from the landfill
- You keep large numbers of animals (chickens, multiple reptiles) that consume BSFL in quantity
- You enjoy the DIY/homesteading aspect
When Buying Makes More Sense
- You live in a cooler climate where BSF cannot fly for much of the year
- You have limited outdoor space
- You keep a few reptiles and use BSFL as a supplement, not a primary feeder
- You prefer convenience — fridge storage, no composting bin to manage
The Practical Answer for Most Keepers
For most reptile keepers, buying BSFL is dramatically easier than breeding them. The composting infrastructure, outdoor space, warm climate, and patience required put home BSF breeding out of reach for apartment dwellers, cold-climate keepers, and anyone who just wants a convenient calcium supplement.
If you want to breed your own feeders, discoid roach colonies are the practical choice — indoor, year-round, minimal space, no composting required.
For BSFL, shop our ready-to-feed collection and let us handle the breeding. Every order ships with our live arrival guarantee.
— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures
