Fly larvae align under compression

Black soldier fly larvae are a non-pest insect under consideration as a method of recycling food waste to sustainable protein. These larvae live in large groups in rotting food waste, where they experience hydrostatic forces from the dirt they are in and active forces from their bodies colliding. We investigate how larvae react to these forces by compressing larva aggregations and measuring their response. Larvae align in a container as they follow their instinct to dig downwards, and thus increase their packing fraction and elastic modulus. This study will benefit how larvae are raised in industry by ensuring that larvae are comfortable with their environment and level of substrate, do not expend energy on hiding, and eat and grow quickly.