Dried black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) — also sold under the trade name CalciWorms — are comparable to dried mealworms but carry a much higher nutritional value.
They contain 23 to 61 times more calcium than other commonly fed feeder insects and naturally feature a well-balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Research has shown that natural feed with balanced Ca:P ratios increases animal health — which means less reliance on dusting with a calcium supplement.
What they're good for
- Bearded dragons, leopard geckos, chameleons and other insectivorous reptiles
- Wild garden birds, chickens and other poultry
- Hedgehogs, sugar gliders and small mammals
Dried vs live
Dried larvae need no refrigeration, no feeding and no colony maintenance — they store in the cupboard and keep for months. The trade-off is that they don't move, so animals that hunt by movement may need live crickets or live mealworms instead.
New to feeder nutrition? Read our guide on how to gut-load feeder insects.
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