Black Soldier Fly - Insect Bioconversion

The Black Soldier Fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) is an efficient decomposer of many types of organic waste and play an important part in bioconversion. The maggots fed with waste products can be used as fish or poultry food. The BSF is native in Neotropical areas, and has spread across continents both by natural dispersal (Marshall et al. 2015) and by human introduction (Kaya et al. 2021).  

We are interested in the genetics and evolution of this species. In recent years, we have sequenced a high-quality chromosome-level BSF reference genome (Generalovic et al. 2021), and are now working to develop a pangenome to study the genetic basis for domestication in this species. We have also developed an artificially selected strain with significantly larger and heritable body size. We have shown rapid genomic responses and repeatable phenotypic changes during artificial selection process. 

Collaborating with several industrial partners, we are investigating the genomic basis and regulatory mechanisms of trait variations and exploring the effects of genetic modifications on these traits.  

Our current research themes include: 

1. Diversification and evolutionary history of wild populations - we have sampled flies from across the native range of the species in latin America to describe their genetic diversity

2. Genetic modifications on selected traits such as upregulation of Anti-Microbial Proteins

3. Selective breeding for strain improvements and investigating the repeatability of responses to selection

4. Outcome and industrial implications of inbreeding and hybridization 

Publications: 

Generalovic, T. N. et al. Cryptic diversity and impacts of domestication in the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) genome. Genome Biol Evol evag097 (2026) doi:10.1093/gbe/evag097.

Generalovic TN, McCarthy SA, Warren IA, Wood JMD, Torrance J, Sims Y, Quail M, Howe K, Pipan M, Durbin R, et al. 2021. A high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.). G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 11. 

Kaya C, Generalovic TN, Ståhls G, Hauser M, Samayoa AC, Nunes-Silva CG, Roxburgh H, Wohlfahrt J, Ewusie EA, Kenis M, et al. 2021. Global population genetic structure and demographic trajectories of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens. BMC Biology 19:1–39.