The current study examined the impact of adult black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.)), age on reproductive output. Four treatments consisting of an equal sex ratio of the following combinations were used: 2-day-old males with 2-day-old females (YMYF); 6-day-old males with 2-day-old females (OMYF); 2-day-old males with 6-day-old females (YMOF); 6-day-old males with 6-day-old females (OMOF). Adult age was a significant factor for the overall number of mating events observed, with YMYF having 2.2× more than YMOF and 2.7× more than OMOF. Time was a significant factor in the number of mating events observed, with 97.8% observed on days 2–6. Age was not a significant factor for the total number of oviposition events, but the inclusion of time as a factor was significant, with 91.5% of all events occurring on days 2–6. Treatment and trial significantly interacted with egg production. This response can be attributed to treatments containing old females, which had a 50% variation in egg output across trials. Treatments containing young females were consistent in terms of egg production. As anticipated, due to oviposition events, 94.8% of total eggs were oviposited on days 2–6. Fecundity and egg hatch were also significantly impacted by female age, with a 50% reduction in both cases across trials occurring in old females. Young females paired with old males had a 20% reduction in egg hatch, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Artificial perches are implemented by many companies that mass-rear the black soldier fly (BSF), to emulate a natural breeding environment or provide additional surface area for flies to rest; however, basic information about perching behavior is lacking. This experiment tested the effect of adding 0.00, 0.04, 0.26, or 0.34 m² of surface area to 0.93 m³ cages, each supplied with 90 male and 90 female adults. Female thoraxes marked with acrylic paint, and the number of perching flies of each sex were recorded over 6 d. A time-series analysis revealed the following: (a) females utilized perches 1.42 times more often than males across two trials; (b) especially in the morning where the difference could be as high as 2.56 times as great; (c) this decreased to 0.20–1.57 times more females than males by 1600 h; and (d) this cyclical pattern repeated each day throughout the week with a decreasing female-bias, starting from 2.41-times more females on day 1, which fell to 0.88–1.98-times more females than males on day 6. These dynamics are likely due to the presence of male flies engaging in aerial contests near ultraviolet lamps required for mating, especially during the early hours and early adulthood, aligning with and expanding prior knowledge of black soldier fly mating behavior.

Behavioural research and its applications has a rich history in science with direct applications continuing to expand global understanding of ecosystem function, structure, and evolution. The same can be said for such research as related to the applied sciences including entomology. The purpose of this article is to provide context to various approaches for assessing behaviour of insects that are mass produced for food and feed. By using the black soldier fly as a model, various approaches for conducting such research are explored along with providing some perspective on the value of such data for optimising insect production. However, it should be noted that this article is not exhaustive with regards to variables that can be examined, or the methods employed.

Adult behaviour is a growing area of interest for those researching the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), which is affected by underlying demography and spatiotemporal patterns. This greenhouse experiment examined the interaction of age-related effects that can accrue within heterogeneous breeding populations and the potential benefits of delaying an oviposition attractant in concert with restricting mean cohort age. The impetus for this investigation was because if flies are introduced into a mating-cage before old flies are removed or culled, a population of mixed-age and mating-status is created. We hypothesized this population dynamic potentially reduces quality among available mate choices, especially in small cages where flies might not be able to spatially segregate. Metrics for fitness included copulation frequency, oviposition frequency, weight of eggs produced, and hatch percentage. “Same”-aged cohorts (maximum 4 days old at introduction) performed better than highly heterogeneous (1–16 days old) “mixed” cohorts by mating 2.32-times more frequently and laying 6.58-times more eggs that were 1.17-times more fertile, despite 1.41 fewer observed oviposition events. Delaying the attractant had a significant effect on egg collection weight and led to 1.25-times higher egg yields for same-age populations compared to mixed-aged cohorts where the delaying the attractant had no significant effect. These results are likely due in part to an immediate desire to lay eggs by older females as well as haphazard egg laying in cage material, which was 2.09-times higher for mixed cohorts. The results highlight the importance of constraining the age of breeding populations and removing old adults from cages to improve yields and better manipulate behaviour. For those for whom this is logistically unfeasible, providing an attractant box initially and continuously may be the preferred method to trap more eggs from heterogeneous populations.

In recent decades, research on insect production for food and feed has expanded significantly, driven by advances in farming, processing, genetics, and sustainability. Various data analysis methods, from traditional statistics to advanced machine learning, are used to optimise aspects of insect-based systems. In production, methods like analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis help improve breeding conditions and growth rates, while multivariate analyses support processing studies by evaluating nutritional and microbial safety. Genetic research leverages bioinformatics, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and quantitative genetics to enhance traits like yield and disease resistance. Sustainability assessments use life cycle analysis (LCA) with Monte Carlo simulations to measure environmental impacts. Emerging tools, such as neural networks and support vector machines, are gaining traction for predicting feed conversion ratios and disease detection. Despite progress, a comprehensive guide that bridges classic and novel data analysis methods in insect research is still lacking. This study aims to address this gap by offering an accessible manual for researchers and professionals. It will consolidate methodologies across disciplines, highlighting foundational tools for beginners while showcasing advanced techniques for experts. Topics include the application of tailored methods like chitin and protein accounting, sensory analysis, consumer preference modelling, and data visualisation to improve stakeholder communication. By enhancing methodological rigor and fostering transparency, this guide will promote innovation, facilitate data interchange, and ensure the replicability of findings. Ultimately, it aims to drive sustainable advancements in the mass production of insects for food and feed.