Cottonseed Press Cake as a Potential Diet for Industrially Farmed Black Soldier Fly Larvae Triggers Adaptations of Their Bacterial and Fungal Gut Microbiota

Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens, Diptera: Stratiomyidae) are used for the bioconversion of organic side products into valuable compounds such as proteins, lipids and chitin. However, the economic competitiveness of farmed insects compared to conventional protein production systems in agriculture and aquaculture depends on the availability of large quantities of inexpensive insect feed. Cottonseed press cake (CPC) is a side-stream of cotton production that is rich in proteins and lipids but unsuitable as feed for several farmed animals, except ruminants, due to the presence of the anti-nutritional sesquiterpenoid gossypol. Here, we tested CPC as a feed for black soldier fly larvae and studied the impact of this diet on the gut microbiome. Larvae reared on CPC developed normally and even showed a shorter life-cycle, but were smaller at the end of larval development than control larvae reared on chicken feed. The adaptability of the larvae to different diets is mediated by their versatile gut microbiome, which facilitates digestion and detoxification. We therefore used amplicon sequencing to analyze the bacterial and fungal communities associated with larvae reared on each diet, revealing differences between the larval guts and frass (residual feed substrate) as well as differences between the two diet groups. For example, Actinomycetaceae and Aspergillaceae were significantly enriched in guts of the CPC diet group and may help to metabolize compounds such as gossypol. Potentially probiotic yeasts and beneficial Enterobacteriaceae, which presumably belong to the core microbiota, were detected in high relative abundance in the gut and frass, indicating a functional role of these microbes, especially the protection against pathogens. We conclude that CPC may be suitable as an inexpensive and environmentally sustainable feed for the industrial rearing of black soldier flies.

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Cost-Effectiveness of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal as Substitute of Fishmeal in Diets for Layer Chicks and Growers

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13116074 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 6074

Author(s):

Esther Khayanga Sumbule ◽

Mary Kivali Ambula ◽

Isaac Maina Osuga ◽

Janice Ghemoh Changeh ◽

David Miano Mwangi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Live Weight ◽

Daily Weight Gain ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Alternative Source ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Promising Alternative ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae ◽

The Impact

The acceptance of eco-friendly black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as sustainable alternative protein ingredient in poultry feeds continues to gain momentum worldwide. This study evaluates the impact of BSFLM in layer chick and grower diets on the growth, carcass quality and economic returns. Mean weekly weight gain and total live weight per chick and grower varied significantly. The highest final weight gain was achieved when birds were provided diet with 25.6% BSFLM. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily weight gain (ADG) and overall weight gain of the chick varied significantly, except for the feed conversion ratio (FCR). For grower birds, ADFI, ADG, FCR and overall weight gain did not vary significantly across the various feeding regimes. The weight of the wings and drumsticks had a quadratic response with a maximum weight obtained at 33% inclusion of BSFLM. The weight of the internal organs were not significantly affected by dietary types. Positive cost–benefit ratio and return on investment was recorded for diet types with higher BSFLM inclusion levels (>75%). Diets with 25% and 100% BSFLM inclusion were the most suitable and cost-effective, respectively. Thus, BSFLM represents a promising alternative source of protein that could be sustainably used in the poultry industries.

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Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) strengthen the metabolic function of food waste biodegradation by gut microbiome

Microbial Biotechnology ◽

10.1111/1751-7915.13393 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 528-543 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Cheng‐Liang Jiang ◽

Wei‐Zheng Jin ◽

Xin‐Hua Tao ◽

Qian Zhang ◽

Jun Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Metabolic Function ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Hermetia Illucens ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae

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Effects of heavy metals on the bioaccumulation, excretion and gut microbiome of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens)

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety ◽

10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110323 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 192 ◽

pp. 110323 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nan Wu ◽

Xiaobo Wang ◽

Xiaoyan Xu ◽

Ruijie Cai ◽

Shiyu Xie

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Hermetia Illucens ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae

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Impact of Heat Treatment on the Microbiological Quality of Frass Originating from Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens)

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects13010022 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 22

Author(s):

Noor Van Looveren ◽

Dries Vandeweyer ◽

Leen Van Campenhout

Keyword(s):

Heat Treatment ◽

Detection Limit ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Hermetia Illucens ◽

Bacterial Endospores ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae ◽

The Impact

Since black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens) are being produced at substantial volumes, concomitantly large amounts of the resulting by-product, called frass, are generated. This frass can potentially be applied as valuable plant fertilizer or soil improver. Since frass carries high microbial counts, potentially including foodborne pathogens, safety problems for consumers should be prevented. A heat treatment of 70 °C for 60 min is proposed to reduce harmful organisms in insect frass, based on EU regulations ((EU) No. 2021/1925). This study evaluated for the first time the impact of the proposed heat treatment on BSFL frass. This was done by applying the treatment on uninoculated frass as well as on frass inoculated with Salmonella or Clostridium perfringens at 5.0 log cfu/g. The heat treatment resulted in a reduction (maximum one log-cycle) of total viable counts and did not noticeably reduce bacterial endospores. In contrast, Enterobacteriaceae counts were reduced to below the detection limit (10 cfu/g). Heat treatment of inoculated frass resulted in absence of Salmonella in 25 g of frass and reduction of vegetative C. perfringens to below the detection limit (1 cfu/g). The proposed heat treatment appears to be appropriate to meet the microbiological regulations for insect frass.

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The impact of dietary Black Soldier Fly larvae oil and meal on laying hen performance and egg quality

Poultry Science ◽

10.1016/j.psj.2021.101272 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 101272

Author(s):

P.H. Patterson ◽

N. Acar ◽

A.D. Ferguson ◽

L.D. Trimble ◽

H.B. Sciubba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Egg Quality ◽

Laying Hen ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae ◽

The Impact

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Novel Insights on the Sustainable Wet Mode Fractionation of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) into Lipids, Proteins and Chitin

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9111888 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1888

Author(s):

Harish Karthikeyan Ravi ◽

Côme Guidou ◽

Jérôme Costil ◽

Christophe Trespeuch ◽

Farid Chemat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Press Cake ◽

Amino Acid Profile ◽

Subsequent Treatment ◽

Total Energy Consumption ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Aqueous Fraction ◽

Unit Operations ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae

The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is a sustainable ingredient for feed applications, biofuels, composite materials and other biobased products. Processing BSFL to obtain lipid and protein fractions with enhanced functional properties as a suitable replacement for conventional feed ingredients has gained considerable momentum. In this regard, a novel and sustainable wet mode fractionation (WMF) scheme for BSFL was explored. Fresh BSFL were steam blanched and pulped to obtain BSFL juice and juice press cake. Subsequent treatment of BSFL juice employing homogenization or enzyme incubation and further centrifugation resulted in the obtention of four different BSFL fractions (Lipid—LF; Cream—CF; Aqueous—AF; and Solid—SF). Total energy consumption for a batch BSFL (500 g) WMF process was 0.321 kWh. Aqueous and solid fractions were the predominant constituents of BSFL juice. Lauric acid (44.52–49.49%) and linoleic acid (19.12–20.12%) were the primary fatty acids present in BSFL lipids. Lipid hydrolysis was observed in lipids belonging to the solid (free fatty acids > triacylglycerides) and cream fractions. Aqueous fraction proteins (ctrl) displayed superior emulsion stability and foam capacity than other treatments. Juice press cake retained 60% of the total chitin content and the rest, 40%, was found in the solid fraction (ctrl). The material distribution of principal constituents in different fractions of the WMF process and amino acid profile was elucidated. Overall, the versatile WMF process proposed in this study involves simple unit operations to obtain functional ingredients from BSFL, which can be further explored by researchers and industry stakeholders.

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Growth Performance of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) Fed on Some Plant Based Organic Wastes

HAYATI Journal of Biosciences ◽

10.4308/hjb.25.2.79 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 79

Author(s):

Ida Kinasih ◽

Ramadhani Eka Putra ◽

Agus Dana Permana ◽

Finsa Firlana Gusmara ◽

Muhammad Yusuf Nurhadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Wastes ◽

Base Line ◽

Insect Larvae ◽

Alternative Source ◽

Black Soldier Fly ◽

Hermetia Illucens ◽

Local Plant ◽

Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽

Fly Larvae ◽

The Impact

Insect larvae, such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL: Hermetia illucens) are currently being considered as an alternative source of protein for poultry and aquaculture industry while in the same time apply as agent to manage organic wastes. In order to achieve both roles it is necessary to develop an appropriate farming methodology and understand the impact of different feeding source for the insect production. The study explored the effect of three local plant based organic wastes as feedstocks to growth of the black soldier fly larvae. Separate feeding trials on horse manure (HM), vegetable wastes (VW), and tofu dreg (TD) was done and their effect on BSF larvae growth rate, larvae weight and total prepupal yield in grams content analysed. The efficiency of the BSF larvae to consume and ability to reduce the waste load of the different substrates was also evaluated. The result showed all materials suitable as feeding material for black soldier fly. Difference on physical properties and chemical content affected the development time, harvested biomass, efficiency of digestivity, and efficiency of biomass production which is unique for each type of waste. This study provide base line information for future development of plant based organic waste management.

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