What is BSF? Are you Curious? Would You Like to Help Answer this Question?

Hello Everyone-
We are trying to determine some information about the BSF in terms of its population genetics. If this is something you would like to help out with- check out the post below.

Until next time- best of luck and happy BSF farming!!!


Here is the post:

For a research project on the global population genetic characterisation of Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens, using new genetic markers currently being developed, as well as mitochondrial sequencing, BSF samples of captive colonies and particularly wild populations (indigenous and invasive) from all over the world are very welcome.
Your support is very much appreciated and all sample provisions will be acknowledged in the forthcoming, fully transparent scientific publication.
 
Collecting specimens in a nutshell:

1. No live material needed, only dead specimens
2. Any life stage will work for DNA extraction
3. Around 20 individuals per captive breeding colony or field site (for wild caught individuals) are perfect (but fewer are also fine)
4. 20 individuals from multiple scattered plots at a given field site are more informative than 100 from a single spot
5. Field sites separated by few kilometres can already be considered different (sub-) populations
6. Information on geographic origin for samples from the wild are needed, and potential origin of captive colonies would help, if traceable

 
Preserving and shipping samples in a nutshell:

1. Ethanol (70%) works best (e.g. tightly sealable 50 mL laboratory plastic tubes)
2. Completely dried samples are also fine
3. Specimens from the same colony or field spot can be pooled in single tubes, but samples from different sources or field sites should be kept separately
4. Ensure proper labelling of all tubes and bags according to origin with permanent marker and additional pencil labelled paper tags for ethanol samples
5. Small parcels or jiffy bag envelopes work fine for shipping
6. Cooling during shipping is not needed, and also no express mail

 
For any more detailed information on the project and procedures, please do not hesitate to contact the project coordinator Christoph Sandrock from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland.
Email: christoph.sandrock@fibl.org