An effect of fat emulsions of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae on the germination capacity and energy of sprouting of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds

Various oils, fats and emulsifiers in the composition of preparations for soil enrichment or plant protection can have a significant effect on the germination capacity and energy of sprouting of pea seeds. Fat of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae can be used as a pesticide carrier as well as for increasing seed resistance to contamination with fungi and insects during storage and sprouting. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine an effect of insect fat in a form of an emulsion on sprouting of pea seeds of the variety “Rodnik” depending on a type of an emulsifier or stabilizer. It was found that the use of 0.3 weight% of xanthan gum as a stabilizer for fat emulsion of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae significantly increased the number of germinated seeds and the energy of seed sprouting. The use of 1–5 weight% of Tween 20 as an emulsifier for fat of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae led to inhibition of seed growth. Lecithin, sodium caseinate and microcellulose with addition of fat of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae also decreased the germination capacity and sprouting of pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.).

System development for production of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) in small scale, using wild flies

Technological innovation in rural areas guarantees the maintenance and subsistence of rural producers. Additionally, it is mandatory to use strategies aimed at reducing costs in animal production and reducing the environmental impact involved, making it challenging in the current global scenario. Thus, it is necessary to develop new alternative methods of production aimed at small scales, which can be implemented in small properties with reduced capital investment. In this sense, the objective was to describe the development of a system capable of inducing the production of black soldier fly larvae-BSFL (Hermetia illucens) through the attractiveness of egg laying of wild adults. To make the larvae production system, the following were needed: a plastic drum, with a capacity of 200 liters, 10 meters of 8mm silk rope, 1.5 m2 of wire mesh with 25mm x 20mm mesh, 1 m2 3mm x 2mm nylon mesh, plastic faucet for draining the slurry, one meter of 20mm diameter hose, two plastic containers with capacity of 20 liters for collecting the slurry and pre-pupae; besides equipment for cutting and finishing the drum. The System was supplied with organic plant material from daily household disposal, and other plant residues produced on the property. The development of this System can provide great social and economic viability, as it can be implemented in small rural properties for the treatment of organic waste. The mechanism presented good performance for the recycling of organic waste, and also for the production of BSFL, with satisfactory quantity collected daily.

Effect of dietary inclusion of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) on broiler performance: A meta-analysis

Black Soldier Fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) is an insect species that potentially can be used as a protein source for broiler nutrition. This study aimed to evaluate different inclusion level of BSF on broiler performance and blood metabolites by integrating various data from related studies using meta-analysis. Total of 12 studies that comprised of 31 data points were integrated in the database. Parameters observed included Live Weight (LW), Average Daily Gain (ADG), Daily Feed Intake (DFI), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), blood metabolites, and carcass proportion. The database was statistically analyzed by using mixed model method. Different studies were considered as random effects, and the level of BSF was treated as fixed effects. The model statistics used were the p-values and the Akaike information criterion. The significance of an effect was stated when its p-value was < 0.05. The results revealed that BSF feeding had significant linearly reduction effect on LW, ADG, and FCR of broiler (P < 0.05) and significant linearly increase effect on DFI and carcass proportion. However, BSF did not significantly affect on blood metabolites of broilers. It can be concluded that BSF negatively affect the performance of broiler.

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

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.

Conversion of Mixtures of Soybean Curd Residue and Kitchen Waste by Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens L.)

The production of insect biomass from organic waste is a major challenge in terms of reducing the environmental impacts of waste and maintaining feed and food security. The feasibility of the co-conversion of soybean curd residue (SCR) and kitchen waste (KW) to breed black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) larvae was evaluated so as to enhance biomass conversion efficiency and supply animal feed and allow it to be used in biodiesel production. Co-digestion was found to significantly increase larval yield, bioconversion rate, and bioaccumulation of lipid. Partial least squares regression showed that the conversion of 30% SCR with 70% KW is an appropriate proportion. The appropriate performance parameters of BSF were: survival rate (98.75%), prepupal rate (88.61%), larval biomass (30.32 g fresh and 11.38 g dry mass), bioconversion rate (18.45%), efficiency conversion of ingested food (ECI) (28.30%), and FCR (2.51). Our results show that conversion of mixtures (e.g., SCR with KW) by BSF larvae (BSFL) could play an important role in various organic materials management.

A Comprehensive Method for the Evaluation of Hermetia illucens Egg Quality Parameters: Implications and Influence Factors

The significant momentum received by Hermetia illucens as a worldwide species is due to its biological traits and large applicability in scientific research, environmental entomoremediation, insect meal production, and for biodiesel yield. The aim of this research is to develop a method for the preparation and precise egg counting of the H. illucens egg clutch, as well as an accurate technique for evaluating egg biometric parameters. The precise proposed method for egg preparation and counting consists in dispersing the eggs clutch under a stereo microscope and counting the eggs on a photographic capture using the Clickmaster software. Five solution types were used to disperse the egg clutches: glycerin 50%, ethanol 70%, ethanol 80%, physiological serum 0.9% and purified water. The efficiency of the estimation method for eggs number evaluation was also tested by using the estimated egg weight as a conversion factor. The biometric parameters of single eggs (length and width) were determined using the free Toupview software. The precise method of egg preparation and counting allows for the registration of the eggs number manually identified by the operator. The appropriate dispersion solutions were glycerin 50% and ethanol 70%. The method has an error of 1.4 eggs for each 500 counted eggs, thus an accuracy of over 99.4%. The eggs number estimation method is not applicable without significant errors, the accuracy being less than 32%, due to egg heterogeneity in the clutch. Biometric parameters (length and width) are positively correlated with egg weight (r = 0.759) and with the number of eggs in the clutch (r = 0.645). In conclusion, the results clearly suggest the method of egg preparation and precise counting for an accurate evaluation of quality parameters of the H. illucens clutches, as well as the technique for evaluating egg biometric parameters.

Staphylococcus aureus in Substrates for Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) and Its Dynamics during Rearing

Given the increasing need for (more sustainable) methods to upcycle organic waste streams, the interest to rear insects, like black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), on such streams is increasing. This study reveals that S. aureus is abundantly present in such waste streams, which might be a point of attention for insect producers.

Perbandingan preferensi oviposisi lalat tentara hitam (Hermetia illucens) terhadap berbagai media penarik bertelur

Lalat tentara hitam (Hermetia illucens) merupakan serangga yang sekarang digunakan sebagai salah satu agen hayati untuk mengendalikan limbah organik dengan merubahnya menjadi biomasa tubuh yang bernilai ekonomi. Dalam hal memaksimalkan kemampuan dari serangga ini, maka pemeliharaan buatan dan rekayasa siklus hidup lalat tentara hitam perlu dilakukan sehingga didapatkan proses pengurangan limbah organik yang optimal serta peningkatan biomassa panen. Salah satu faktor pembatas dalam pemanfaatan serangga ini dalam skala besar adalah pada produksi telur. Pada produksi telur digunakan perangkap telur yang dikombinasikan dengan media atraktan. Penggunaan perangkap telur dan media atraktan bertujuan untuk memfasilitasi panen telur agar lebih efektif karena telur akan terkonsentrasi pada satu lokasi. Pada penelitian ini dilakukan pengujian kinerja dari berbagai media atraktan dalam upaya mencari bahan yang paling optimal dalam menarik lalat tentara hitam meletakkan telur pada perangkap telur. Media atraktan yang digunakan adalah sayur kol busuk, buah pepaya busuk, ampas tahu dan pakan ikan. Kinerja media atraktan kemudian dievaluasi berdasarkan berat telur yang didapat pada perangkap telur. Studi ini melaporkan bahwa sebagian besar atraktan dapat menarik lalat tentara hitam. Berdasarkan hasil uji statistik dengan Kruskal-Wallis diketahui terdapat perbedaan signifikan pada berat telur yang didapat dari setiap atraktan yang digunakan dimana atraktran berupa tepung ikan merupakan atraktan yang paling efektif dengan berat telur rata-rata per perangkap adalah 2,17 gr. Di sisi lain atraktan yang terbuat dari ampas tahu merupakan atraktan yang paling tidak diminati dimana berat rata-rata telur per perangkap adalah 0,06 gr.