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Open AccessArticle
Comparison of Growth and Composition of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) Larvae Reared on Sugarcane By-Products and Other Substrates
by
Nooshin Zandi-Sohani
Nooshin Zandi-Sohani
Dr. Nooshin Zandi Sohani is an Associate Professor at the Agricultural Sciences and Natural of She a [...]
Dr. Nooshin Zandi Sohani is an Associate Professor at the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan. She obtained a Master of Science (MS) in Agricultural Entomology and a PhD in Entomology from the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (Jundi Shapur). She has been working at the Plant Protection Department of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan since 2009. Her research focus is on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biological control of insect pests. She is also interested in studying the effects of plant secondary metabolites on insects.
1,* and
Jeffery K. Tomberlin
Jeffery K. Tomberlin 2
1
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz 63417-73637, Iran
2
Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2024, 15(10), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100771 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 8 August 2024
/
Revised: 24 September 2024
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Accepted: 30 September 2024
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Published: 6 October 2024
Simple Summary
The black soldier fly (BSF) has recently gained global popularity for converting organic waste into valuable biomass for animal feed. Previous studies have demonstrated the ability of BSF larvae to consume various food wastes and animal manure. In this study, we used sugarcane by-products—such as bagasse, vinasse, and molasses—as a food source for BSF larvae and compared their development and nutritional value with those fed with university canteen leftovers (UCLs). The BSF larvae grew longer and heavier when fed university canteen leftovers compared to other treatments. The UCL treatment also resulted in the larvae’s highest protein and oil content. Overall, the BSF larvae exhibited the best growth on the UCL substrate, while the combination of bagasse and vinasse (BV) proved to be the most suitable substrate among the sugarcane by-products for BSF larva development.
Abstract
Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can convert organic waste into high-quality biomass. In this study, we tested the potential of sugarcane by-products as a food source for BSFL and compared larval development and nutritional value with some other organic substrates. Seven different substrates were used, including carrot pomace (C), carrot pomace and leftover bread (CB) (50/50), bagasse and vinasse (BV), bagasse and molasses (BM), bagasse, vinasse, and molasses (BVM), a mixture of all the above treatments (MX), and university canteen leftovers (UCLs). The larval weight and length were measured for two weeks from day 5 to 19. Then, the BSFL were harvested and analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, oil, ash, mineral, and fatty acid composition. Larval weight and length varied depending on the feeding substrate provided. University canteen leftovers resulted in the BSFL having at least 18% greater length (17.00 mm) and 56% greater weight (3.15 g) compared to other treatments. The highest amounts of protein (38.9%) and oil (39.06%) were observed in the UCL treatment, while the BV treatment larvae had the highest quantities of ash (28.9%) and dry matter (28.0%). The fatty acid profile of the BSFL revealed three-times-higher levels of saturated fatty acids than unsaturated fatty acids in the UCL treatment and was at least twice as high in other treatments. Overall, the BSFL had the best growth on the UCL substrate, and the combination of bagasse and vinasse (BV) was the most appropriate substrate for BSFL development among the sugarcane by-products.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Zandi-Sohani, N.; Tomberlin, J.K.
Comparison of Growth and Composition of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) Larvae Reared on Sugarcane By-Products and Other Substrates. Insects 2024, 15, 771.
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100771
AMA Style
Zandi-Sohani N, Tomberlin JK.
Comparison of Growth and Composition of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) Larvae Reared on Sugarcane By-Products and Other Substrates. Insects. 2024; 15(10):771.
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100771
Chicago/Turabian Style
Zandi-Sohani, Nooshin, and Jeffery K. Tomberlin.
2024. "Comparison of Growth and Composition of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) Larvae Reared on Sugarcane By-Products and Other Substrates" Insects 15, no. 10: 771.
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100771
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