Ability of Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae to Recycle Food Waste

Accumulation of organic wastes, especially in livestock facilities, can be a potential pollution issue. The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), can consume a wide range of organic material and has the potential to be used in waste management. In addition, the prepupae s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental entomology 2015-04, Vol.44 (2), p.406-410
Main Authors: Nguyen, Trinh T. X, Tomberlin, Jeffery K, Vanlaerhoven, Sherah
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Feed - analysis
Animals
diet
Diptera - growth & development
Diptera - physiology
feeds
fish
fruits
Garbage
Hermetia illucens
insect larvae
insects
kitchen waste
Larva - growth & development
Larva - physiology
liver
nutrient content
PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY
pig manure
pollution
poultry
prepupae
rearing
recycling
Refuse Disposal - methods
sustainable Agriculture
swine
vegetables
waste management
waste reduction
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Summary:Accumulation of organic wastes, especially in livestock facilities, can be a potential pollution issue. The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), can consume a wide range of organic material and has the potential to be used in waste management. In addition, the prepupae stage of this insect can be harvested and used as a valuable nutritious feed for animal livestock. Five waste types with a wide range of organic source matter were specifically chosen to evaluate the consumption and reduction ability of black soldier fly larvae. H. illucens was able to reduce all waste types examined: 1) control poultry feed, 2) pig liver, 3) pig manure, 4) kitchen waste, 5) fruits and vegetables, and 6) rendered fish. Kitchen waste had the greatest mean rate of reduction (consumption by black soldier fly) per day and produced the longest and heaviest black soldier flies. Larvae reared on liver, manure, fruits and vegetables, and fish were approximately the same length and weight as larvae fed the control feed, although some diets produced larvae with a higher nutritional content. The black soldier fly has the ability to consume and reduce organic waste and be utilized as valuable animal feed. Exploration of the potential use of black soldier flies as an agent for waste management on a large-scale system should continue.
ISSN:0046-225X
1938-2936
DOI:10.1093/ee/nvv002