Bioconversion is a biological process by which organic materials are converted into products with higher biological and commercial value.During its larval stage the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens is extremely voracious and can feed on a wide vari-ety of organic materials.To study the impact of different fruit byproducts on the insect's growth,final larval biomass,substrate reduction,bioconversion parameters,and larval nu-tritional composition,10000 black soldier fly larvae(BSFL)were reared on 7.0 kg of one of three substrates(strawberry,tangerine,or orange)or on a standard diet as a control.The results highlight that BSFL can successfully feed and grow on each of these diets,though their development time,growth rate,and final biomass were differently impacted by the substrates,with strawberry being the most suitable.The lipid and protein contents of BSFL were similar among larvae fed on different substrates;however,major differences were detected in ash,micronutrient,fiber,fatty acid,and amino acid contents.Overall,the results indicate that fruit waste management through the BSFL bioconversion process rep-resents a commercially promising resource for regional and national agrifood companies.Our study offers new perspectives for sustainable and environmentally friendly industrial development by which fruit byproducts or waste might be disposed of or unconventionally enhanced to create secondary products of high biological and economic value,including BSFL biomass as animal feed or,in perspective,as alternative protein source for human nutrition.
Carmen ScieuzoAntonio FrancoRosanna SalviaMicaela TriunfoNicola Francesco AddeoSimone VozzoGiovanni PiccoloFulvia BoveraAlberto RitieniAntonio Di FranciaAmbrogio LaginestraEric SchmittPatrizia Falabella
Insect proteins have been proposed for human and animal food production.Safeguarding the health status of insects in mass rearing allows to obtain high-quality products and to avoid severe economic losses due to entomopathogens.Therefore,new strategies for preserving insect health must be implemented.Modulation of the insect im-mune system through the diet is one such strategy.We evaluated gene expression of two antimicrobial peptides(one defensin and one cecropin)in Hermetia illucens(L.)(Diptera:Stratiomyidae)reared on different diets.Analyses were performed on prepupae and 10-day-old larvae reared on cereal-and municipal organic waste-based diets and on only prepupae reared on a cereal-based diet supplemented with sunflower,corn,or soybean oil.The inclusion of sunflower oil at different points in the cereal-based diet was also evalu-ated.Moreover,diet-driven differences in the inhibitory activity of the hemolymph were tested against Escherichia coli DH5αand Micrococcus yunnanensis HI55 using diffusion assays in solid media.Results showed that a municipal organic waste-based diet produced a significant overexpression of antimicrobial peptides only in prepupae.Inclusion of veg-etable oils caused an upregulation of at least one peptide,except for the corn oil.Higher expression of both genes was observed when sunflower oil was added 5 days before pupa-tion.All hemolymph samples showed an inhibitory activity against bacteria colonies.Our results suggest that municipal organic waste-based diet and vegetable oil-added diet may successfully impact the immune system of H.illucens.Such alternatives may also exist forotherspeciesofeconomic interest.
Organic wastes are one of the greatest challenges that cities face worldwide. In numerous underdeveloped nations, like Cameroon, waste is often disposed of through landfills, composting, or open-air combustion. Unfortunately, the concept of waste sorting and organic waste processing is new to many individuals. This has led to an increase in the amount of organic waste and the costs connected with its management. Consequently, the majority of developing nations have sought out waste management solutions that are more cost-effective. Therefore, it has been determined that the bioconversion of organic wastes by black soldier fly larvae (BSFLs) (Hermetia illucens) into multifunctional prepupae is a viable alternative. Appreciation is given to the employment of the organic waste management approach in developing nations since it is not only environmentally friendly and economically viable, but also provides a means for waste valorisation through the production of diverse resources and potential economic benefits. Studies have proved the usefulness of the insect in controlling organic wastes, but countries such as Cameroon are still unfamiliar with the nuances of this method. Consequently, this timely review examined the performance of the BSFL, specifically in organic waste treatment, as well as the best practices for multiplying them to determine its viability for use in a waste treatment plant, the production of high-quality larvae as a source of protein for livestock, and the production of diesel fuel.
Marykathleen Agbornawbi TambeayukMarc Anselme KamgaOlalekan J. Taiwo
Mass production of black soldier fly,Hermetia illucens(L.)(Diptera:Stra-tiomyidae),larvae results in massive heat generation,which impacts facility management,waste conversion,and larval production.We tested daily substrate temperatures with dif-ferent population densities(i.e.,0,500,1000,5000,and 10000 larvae/pan),different pop-ulation sizes(i.e.,166,1000,and 10000 larvae at a fixed feed ratio)and air temperatures(i.e.,20 and 30℃)on various production parameters.Impacts of shifting larvae from 30 to 20℃on either day 9 or 11 were also determined.Larval activity increased substrate tem-peratures significantly(i.e.,at least 10℃above air temperatures).Low air temperature favored growth with the higher population sizes while high temperature favored growth with low population sizes.The greatest average individual larval weights(e.g.,0.126 and 0.124 g)and feed conversion ratios(e.g.,1.92 and 2.08 g/g)were recorded for either 10000 larvae reared at 20℃or 100 larvae reared at 30 C.Shifting temperatures from high(30℃)to low(20℃)in between(~10-d-old larvae)impacted larval production weights(16%increases)and feed conversion ratios(increased 14%).Facilities should consider the impact of larval density,population size,and air temperature during black soldier fly mass production as these factors impact overall larval production.
In recent years, black soldier fly (BSF) has been shown to efficiently convert organic waste into nutrient-rich larval biomass while generating frass as the main by-product. This work aims to investigate the potential of BSF frass (BSFF) as an organic fertilizer for agricultural production. BSFF was produced by recycling household waste using BSF larvae, and a portion was taken to the lab for physicochemical and microbial analyses before the field trial on lettuce growth and health. The field trial consisted of two doses of BSFF (15 t·ha-1 and 30 t·ha-1) and one dose of urea (0.214 t·ha-1). An unfertilized plot was prepared and used as a control, and the effects on lettuce growth were assessed using agronomic parameters while the health effects were assessed using parameters such as: the number of leaves affected per plant, the incidence of affection, the severity of the affection and the microbial analysis. BSFF exhibited acceptable physicochemical properties as an organic fertilizer. Its application improved the growth parameters of lettuce plants compared to urea and control. The application rates of 15 t·ha-1 and 30 t·ha-1 did not reveal any significant difference (p > 0.05). Further studies are therefore needed to determine the minimum applicable dose. The health parameters of the lettuce plants were slightly altered regardless of the treatment and the microbial analysis of the affected leaves revealed pathogenic microorganisms. We therefore recommend that decontamination methods be considered when producing BSFF as an organic fertilizer.
Daniel DzepeThéclaire K. MbendaGabrièle NgassaHervé MubeShaphan Y. ChiaYaouba AoudouRousseau Djouaka
A new species,Odontomyia tani sp.nov.,is described from Guizhou,China.The diagnostic characters are figured and possible relationships are briefly discussed.The type specimen is deposited in Guizhou Academy of Forestry,Guiyang.
