[en] Laboratory research on organisms is challenging due to numerous abiotic and biotic factors that must be controlled. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is no exception, and these factors can affect result repeatability—between research teams, experiments by the same team, and even replicates of a single experiment. While some factors like temperature and humidity are well known, variability sometimes remains unpredictable, leading to trends without statistical significance. This suggests that key species-specific parameters remain unidentified. In this context, we investigated two such parameters. The first relates to the dynamics of oviposition. In breeding cages, eggs are laid over several days, potentially producing multiple cohorts of larvae with distinct characteristics such as growth, survival, or sex ratio. The second concerns larval composition. As larvae stop feeding at the end of development, they progressively empty their digestive tracts. Collected samples therefore include individuals with varying levels of intestinal content, affecting their nutritional profile. Our work aims to better identify such influential parameters to improve experimental consistency. By refining our understanding of H. illucens biology, we contribute to the development of a more reliable and repeatable experimental model for this promising species.
