Large numbers of flies are needed to produce the quantity of larvae required for insect bioconversion of waste. However, this 'mass-rearing' may negatively affect adult survival and reproductive output. This study assessed the suitability for mass-rearing of four blow fly species, Chrysomya chloropyga, Chrysomya chloropyga (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (F.), Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann) and Lucilia sericata (Meigen). Flies were kept at densities of 20, 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 flies per 30 × 30 × 30 cm cage with an even sex ratio. Time to 50% mortality (LT50) was recorded, and the effects of density, species, and sex on LT50, fecundity, and fertility were determined. Females survived longer than males across all species. There was evidence for a trade-off between survival and high fecundity in L. sericata and C. chloropyga at density 250. C. megacephala had low fecundity across all densities. At high densities, C. putoria had the lowest mortality and highest fecundity, making it the most suitable for mass-rearing.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/tox251 | DOI Listing |
J Hazard Mater
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 561113, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 561113, China. Electronic address:
The misuse of tetracycline in livestock farming leads to environmental residues that promote the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), particularly tetracycline resistance (tet) genes. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, used for organic waste bioconversion, may carry tetracycline residues in their guts, raising concerns about ARG spread. To address this issue, plant-derived additives such as lavender essential oil (LEO) have been explored as alternative antibiotics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Environ Manage
January 2025
CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
As global populations escalate and the demand for food and feed intensifies, the generation of agri-food waste is becoming an increasingly critical issue. Addressing this challenge is crucial for optimizing food production and advancing sustainable waste management practices. In this context, insects, including the Black Soldier Fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens), present opportunities for circularity through the bioconversion of organic waste.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Ecotechnol
January 2025
Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
Managing plastic waste is one of the greatest challenges humanity faces in the coming years. Current strategies-landfilling, incineration, and recycling-remain insufficient or pose significant environmental concerns, failing to address the growing volume of plastic residues discharged into the environment. Recently, increasing attention has focused on the potential of certain insect larvae species to chew, consume, and partially biodegrade synthetic polymers such as polystyrene and polyethylene, offering novel biotechnological opportunities for plastic waste management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsects
January 2025
Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia.
This study assessed the bioconversion efficiency of larvae (BSFL) fed on food waste stored under different conditions, focusing on the nutritional and microbial quality of the resulting larval biomass. Food waste was prepared as a fresh diet (FD) or naturally contaminated and stored at 20-22 °C (OS-T, opened storage-tempered) or under refrigeration, at 5-8 °C (CS-C, closed storage-cooled). Refrigerated, closed storage (CS-C) led to the highest rates of waste reduction (91.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsects
December 2024
College of Agriculture and Biology, Shandong Province Engineering Research Center of Black Soldier Fly Breeding and Organic Waste Conversion, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China.
Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) convert kitchen waste into high-quality insect feed. However, the optimal amount of auxiliary materials needed to improve the physical and chemical properties of kitchen waste and enhance BSFL bioconversion efficiency remains unresolved. In this study, maize stover and BSFL frass were added to kitchen waste (in groups G2 and G3, respectively) to explore their effects on the growth performance and bioconversion efficiency of BSFL.
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