Intestinal microbiota and functional characteristics of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens)

Abstract Purpose Black soldier fly transforms organic waste into insect protein and fat, which makes it valuable for ecological utilization. This process is associated with the intestinal microbiota. This research was developed to determine the type and functional characteristics of intestinal microbiota present in black soldier fly larvae. Methods In this research, metagenomics has been used to study black soldier fly larvae gut bacteria, which involves the high abundance of the gut microbe advantage bacterium group, the impact, and the physiological functions of the microbiota. Furthermore, intestinal bacteria and their related functions were investigated by bioinformatics analysis to evaluate potential microbial strains that may be used to improve feed utilization efficiency in factory farming. Result The results showed that black soldier fly larvae’s intestine contains more than 11,000 bacteria. The high relative abundance of group W (larvae fed with 75% wheat bran and 25% soybean powder) may promote feed utilization efficiency, whereas high relative abundance of group T microbiota (larvae fed with 75% wheat bran and 25% soybean powder supplemented with 1% tetracycline) may play an important role in black soldier fly larvae survival. Conclusion The gut bacteria in black soldier fly larvae were involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis and metabolism, translation, membrane transport, energy metabolism, cytoskeleton, extracellular structures, inorganic ion transport and metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and coenzyme transport physiological processes. The 35 significant differential microbes in group W may have a positive impact on feed utilization and physiological process.

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Intestinal Microbiota and Functional Characteristics of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia Illucens)

10.21203/rs.3.rs-168343/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zhineng Yuan ◽

Ying Ma ◽

Bingjie Tang ◽

Rouxian Zeng ◽

Qiang Zhou

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Wheat Bran ◽

Feed Utilization ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Soybean Powder ◽

Fly Larvae ◽

Feed Utilization Efficiency

Abstract Purpose: Black soldier fly transforms organic waste into insect protein and fat, which makes it valuable to ecological utilization. This process is associated with intestinal microbiota. This research was developed to determine the type and functional characteristics of intestinal microbiota present in black soldier fly larvae.Methods: In this research, metagenomics has been used to study black soldier fly larvae gut bacteria, which involves the high abundance of the gut microbes advantage bacterium group, the impact, and physiological functions of the microbiota. Furthermore, intestinal bacteria and their related functions were investigated by bioinformatics analysis to evaluate potential the microbial strains that may be used to improve feed utilization efficiency in factory farming.Result: The results showed that black soldier fly larvae´ intestine contains more than 11,000 bacteria. High relative abundance of group W (larvae fed with 75% wheat bran and 25% soybean powder) may promote feed utilization efficiency, whereas high relative abundance of group T microbiota (larvae fed with 75% wheat bran and 25% soybean powder supplemented with 1% tetracycline) may play an important role in black soldier fly larvae survival.Conclusion: The gut bacteria in black soldier fly larvae were involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis and metabolism, translation, membrane transport, energy metabolism, cytoskeleton, extracellular structures, inorganic ion transport and metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and coenzyme transport physiological processes. The 35 significant differential microbes in group W may have a positive impact in feed utilization and physiological process.

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Screening of Effective Media for Black Soldier Fly Larvae Used in Food Waste Treatment

Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers ◽

10.4491/ksee.2020.42.10.463 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (10) ◽

pp. 463-471

Author(s):

Chul-Hwan Kim ◽

Kwanyoung Ko ◽

Jongkeun Lee ◽

Haegeun Chung

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Wheat Bran ◽

Waste Treatment ◽

Treatment Method ◽

Treatment Technology ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae ◽

By Products ◽

Bean Sprouts

Objectives : Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are organisms that effectively decompose various types of organic waste including food waste, and food waste treatment using BSFL is attracting attention as a sustainable waste treatment method. However, food waste discharged from Korea has a wide variety of properties, and its high salt concentration limits its treatment by BSFL. Therefore, to increase the efficiency of food waste treatment using BSFL, it is necessary to increase the quality of food waste as a production medium for BSFL. In this study, the ratio of protein and fat was adjusted by adding bean sprouts and wheat brans to food wastes treated at high temperature under vacuum, and whether such medium is suitable for rearing BSFL was investigated.Methods : To improve the medium, the ratio of protein and fat was adjusted to approximately 2:1 by adding bean sprouts and bran residue to food waste. Subsequently, the growth and development rate of BSFL reared on chicken feed, food waste, food waste + bean sprouts, food waste + wheat bran were measured. Also, the decomposition rate of each medium was analyzed.Results and Discussion : The growth rate of BSFL grown on food waste + wheat bran medium was similar to that of BSFL reared on chicken feed. The speed of development at day 7 was also the fastest for BSFL reared with food waste + wheat bran medium and chicken feed. These results suggest that the mixed medium to which wheat bran has been added to food waste has the potential to be used as a commercial medium for BSFL production. The survival rate of BSFL was 89% or higher in all media.Conclusions : When food waste was used alone, BSFL development was poor compared to that in media combined with agricultural by-products such as bean sprouts and wheat bran. Therefore, to use food waste as a rearing medium of BSFL, it is necessary to adjust the ratio of protein and fat by adding various agricultural by-products and reduce salinity. For the improvement of food waste treatment technology using BSFL, mass rearing of useful insects such as BSFL, and promotion of the use of agricultural by-products, additional research is needed to optimize the composition of rearing medium based on food waste.

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Dietary fishmeal replacement by black soldier fly larvae meals affected red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) production performance and intestinal microbiota depending on what feed substrate the insect larvae were offered

Animal Feed Science and Technology ◽

10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.115179 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 115179

Author(s):

Fernando Y. Yamamoto ◽

Blaine A. Suehs ◽

Matthew Ellis ◽

Paul R. Bowles ◽

Caitlin E. Older ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Red Drum ◽

Sciaenops Ocellatus ◽

Production Performance ◽

Insect Larvae ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Fishmeal Replacement ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae

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Recycling of organic residues by black soldier fly larvae - influence of substrate on larval composition

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-1606 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eva Erhart ◽

Marion Bonell ◽

Manfred Sager ◽

Kim Hissek ◽

Dieter Haas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wheat Bran ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Organic Residues ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Wide Range ◽

Beet Pulp ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae ◽

Soybean Extraction

The concept of closed ecological cycles has a high priority in organic farming. As the larvae of the black soldier fly are able to utilize organic residues and convert them into high-quality protein and fat, the larvae could play a role in recycling local organic residues into feed for fish, poultry and pigs and partially replace imported protein feeds. In this work, a wide range of residues was tested as feed components for black soldier fly larvae.Total C and S of feed substrates and larvae were determined by CNS analyzer. Crude protein/Ntot was analyzed by the Kjeldahl method; crude fat after acid digestion. For the analysis of Ptot and other elements the samples were digested by dry ashing, dissolved in dilute HCl and measured by ICP-OES.The yield of larval dry matter ranged from 0.10 to 0.23 kg per kg feed dry matter (DM). The highest larval DM was obtained with substrates of bread residues and wheat bran and of distiller's grain solubles (DDGS) and pasta residues. The lowest larval DM and the lowest yield of larval protein were obtained when feeding with substrates containing beet pulp or potatoes.Crude protein contents of the larvae ranged from 33% to 52% DM, the maximum values almost equalling soybean extraction meal, but still below fish meal. High crude protein contents in the feed did not always correlate with high larval contents. The yield of larval protein was 0.105 kg per kg feed DM at maximum, with a substrate containing rapeseed extraction meal and pasta residues. Substrates of brewer's grains and pasta residues and of DDGS and pasta residues yielded 0.101 kg kg-1 and 0.98 kg kg-1, respectively.Larval crude fat contents ranged between 18% and 38% DM. Of the feed substrates with high DM and protein yields, only that of rapeseed extraction meal and pasta residues achieved a crude protein/crude fat ratio >2.Phosphorus contents of the larvae were 6.9 - 11.5 g kg-1 DM, sulfur contents 3.3 - 6.1 g kg-1. Highest P and S contents were found in larvae fattened on substrates with particularly high P and S contents, such as of corn steep liquor and wheat bran, or of rapeseed extraction meal with maize or pasta residues.Calcium was enriched in the larvae. With the exception of larvae from Ca-rich feed substrates such as rapeseed extraction meal or beet pulp, which had Ca contents of 20 and 30 g kg-1 DM, respectively, the Ca contents of the larvae were in the range of soybean extraction meal, 3.4 to 10.5 g kg-1 DM.Cu contents ranged from 5.7 to 13.9 mg kg-1 DM, with the exception of larvae fed with brewer's grains, which had 24.7 mg kg-1 Cu.The results show that crude protein and crude fat content of the larvae vary greatly with different feed substrates. In addition to these quality characteristics, the substrate also influences the contents of other nutrients such as P, Ca, Cu, etc. This knowledge can be used specifically in different applications of the larvae in feed production.

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Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal as a Fishmeal Substitute in Juvenile Dusky Kob Diets: Effect on Feed Utilization, Growth Performance, and Blood Parameters

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12229460 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (22) ◽

pp. 9460

Author(s):

Molatelo Junior Madibana ◽

Mulunda Mwanza ◽

Brett Roderick Lewis ◽

Chris Henri Fouché ◽

Rashieda Toefy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Feed Utilization ◽

Fish Length ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Recirculating Aquaculture ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae ◽

Quadratic Effects

Using black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFM) in place of fishmeal is an ingenious strategy for sustainable fish aquaculture. However, BSFM has not been evaluated for dusky kob (Argyrosomus japonicus), an economically important fish in South Africa. Therefore, this five-week study investigated the effect of partially replacing fishmeal with BSFM on feed utilization, growth performance, and blood parameters of juvenile dusky kob in a recirculating aquaculture system. Four diets were formulated by replacing fishmeal in a commercial dusky kob diet with BSFM at the rate of 0 (BSFM0), 50 (BSFM50), 100 (BSFM100), and 200 g/kg (BSFM200). Fish length and weights were measured weekly, while blood analyses were performed at the end of Week 5. For fish length and weight gain, there were neither linear nor quadratic responses in Weeks 1–4, while quadratic trends (y = 14.77 (± 0.19)−0.11 (± 0.05)x + 0.01 (± 0.00) x2; R2 = 0.35 and y = 49.85 (± 1.53)−1.22 (± 0.39)x + 0.06 (± 0.02) x2; R2 = 0.47, respectively) were observed in Week 5 in response to BSFM levels. Quadratic effects (y = 1.75 (± 0.15) + 0.10 (± 0.04)x − 0.01 (± 0.00) x2; R2 = 0.39) were also observed for feed conversion ratio (FCR) in response to BSFM inclusion levels. Fish fed BSFM200 had a similar overall FCR and specific growth rate as those reared on BSFM0. All blood parameters fell within the normal range for the dusky kob. We concluded that 20% dietary replacement of fishmeal with BSFM does not compromise feed utilization and growth performance of juvenile dusky kob.

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