Validation of Acrylic Paint as a Marking Technique for Examining Mating Success of the Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is mass produced worldwide for use in waste management and the production of an alternative protein for use as feed. However, few publications have explored its adult behavior, particularly mating, as a means to optimize egg production in colony. In addition, there is limited knowledge of appropriate marking techniques to explore the mating behavior of this insect.The goal of this study was to validate water-based acrylic paint pens as a possible marking tool for behavioral studies with adult black soldier flies. Adult black soldier flies (