The Influence of Non-Optimal Rearing Conditions and Substrates on the Performance of the Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>)
Among the insect species reared as alternative protein sources, <i>Hermetia illucens</i> (black soldier Fly, BSF) has shown a huge potential mostly due to its high protein content, its bioconversion rates, and versatility in using different feeding substrates. Insect rearing may use cont...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/7/639 |
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| author | Nuno Ribeiro Rui Costa Olga M. C. C. Ameixa |
| author_facet | Nuno Ribeiro Rui Costa Olga M. C. C. Ameixa |
| author_sort | Nuno Ribeiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Among the insect species reared as alternative protein sources, <i>Hermetia illucens</i> (black soldier Fly, BSF) has shown a huge potential mostly due to its high protein content, its bioconversion rates, and versatility in using different feeding substrates. Insect rearing may use continuous or batch feeding regimes and, among the used substrates, supermarket feedstock waste has gained recent interest under a circular economy perspective, but several uncertainties remain regarding the heterogeneity and the potential effects of the quantity and quality of these substrates on BSF larvae (BSFL) development. In this experimental work, five replicates of a hundred BSFL were fed in a continuous feeding regime, using seven different isolated vegetables as substrates (wheat bran, pumpkin, apple, grape pomace, red onion, red cabbage, and spinach), at three different temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C) and two substrate moisture conditions (natural and 70% substrate moisture), until 50% of the larvae achieved the prepupal stage. BSFL performance and bioconversion parameters were evaluated. Our results show that some substrates should be avoided when rearing <i>Hermetia illucens</i> on feedstocks. Among these, apple feed led to poorer and slower development performances with more than 100 days of larval stage, while grape pomace and spinach showed higher mortality rates, which may be due to some anti-nutritional compounds. Larvae fed on pumpkin, red cabbage, and red onion presented good bioconversion results with higher values of efficiency of conversion of digested feed between 14.4 and 25. This work delivers relevant results for black soldier fly reared on a continuous feeding system using vegetable feedstock substrates and their potential trade-offs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:17:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36319f769d264f0d89476e7f300baadf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:17:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-36319f769d264f0d89476e7f300baadf2023-12-01T22:17:28ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-07-0113763910.3390/insects13070639The Influence of Non-Optimal Rearing Conditions and Substrates on the Performance of the Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>)Nuno Ribeiro0Rui Costa1Olga M. C. C. Ameixa2Ecomare, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalResearch Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (CERNAS), Coimbra Agriculture School, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, PortugalEcomare, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalAmong the insect species reared as alternative protein sources, <i>Hermetia illucens</i> (black soldier Fly, BSF) has shown a huge potential mostly due to its high protein content, its bioconversion rates, and versatility in using different feeding substrates. Insect rearing may use continuous or batch feeding regimes and, among the used substrates, supermarket feedstock waste has gained recent interest under a circular economy perspective, but several uncertainties remain regarding the heterogeneity and the potential effects of the quantity and quality of these substrates on BSF larvae (BSFL) development. In this experimental work, five replicates of a hundred BSFL were fed in a continuous feeding regime, using seven different isolated vegetables as substrates (wheat bran, pumpkin, apple, grape pomace, red onion, red cabbage, and spinach), at three different temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C) and two substrate moisture conditions (natural and 70% substrate moisture), until 50% of the larvae achieved the prepupal stage. BSFL performance and bioconversion parameters were evaluated. Our results show that some substrates should be avoided when rearing <i>Hermetia illucens</i> on feedstocks. Among these, apple feed led to poorer and slower development performances with more than 100 days of larval stage, while grape pomace and spinach showed higher mortality rates, which may be due to some anti-nutritional compounds. Larvae fed on pumpkin, red cabbage, and red onion presented good bioconversion results with higher values of efficiency of conversion of digested feed between 14.4 and 25. This work delivers relevant results for black soldier fly reared on a continuous feeding system using vegetable feedstock substrates and their potential trade-offs.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/7/639black soldier flyalternative proteinsbioconversioninsects feedcircular economy |
| spellingShingle | Nuno Ribeiro Rui Costa Olga M. C. C. Ameixa The Influence of Non-Optimal Rearing Conditions and Substrates on the Performance of the Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Insects black soldier fly alternative proteins bioconversion insects feed circular economy |
| title | The Influence of Non-Optimal Rearing Conditions and Substrates on the Performance of the Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) |
| title_full | The Influence of Non-Optimal Rearing Conditions and Substrates on the Performance of the Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Non-Optimal Rearing Conditions and Substrates on the Performance of the Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Non-Optimal Rearing Conditions and Substrates on the Performance of the Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) |
| title_short | The Influence of Non-Optimal Rearing Conditions and Substrates on the Performance of the Black Soldier Fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) |
| title_sort | influence of non optimal rearing conditions and substrates on the performance of the black soldier fly i hermetia illucens i |
| topic | black soldier fly alternative proteins bioconversion insects feed circular economy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/7/639 |
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