When you think of an entomologist, you probably think of someone who goes out and collects insects. But what about someone who raises insects? There is a thriving community of people raising pets that may be considered non-traditional by many - insects, spiders, reptiles, amphibians, and more.

Captive breeding of insects and arachnids is important to avoid over-collecting of wild specimens and, in the case of Spencer, to provide a source of food for captive animals. It is also a great way to learn about the life cycle of an insect and how to care for it.

Spencer Doepel is the owner and founder of Ecoflys (affiliate link) which provides black soldier fly larvae for reptile and amphibian keepers. I had a great time talking with him and I learned a ton about how to care for black soldier flies and how they are used in the pet industry and beyond.