BugBook: life cycle, reproduction, and morphofunctional characterisation of the gut, fat body, and haemocytes in the black soldier fly

Insects are attracting significant attention due to their effectiveness as bioconversion agents for various organic waste and by-products, as well as for their use as raw material in the food and feed sector. Consequently, their potential in creating novel, circular, and sustainable supply chains has been extensively documented, leading to a rapid increase in research on the biology of these animals. In this scenario, the black soldier fly (BSF) has gained considerable popularity. Despite the extraordinary bioconversion capabilities of BSF larvae, several challenges must be addressed to develop and optimise the bioconversion process of a wide range of organic substrates. This effort is accompanied by the need to standardise research protocols. To this end, in this article we present information on the morphological features of developmental stages of BSF, the isolation of larval organs, and methods for studying digestion, immune response, and the reproductive system.