| Abstrakt: |
As the concept of insects as food and feed is getting more and more popular, the industrial insect production is booming. However, some challenges need to be addressed to optimize production. The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (BSF; Diptera: Stratiomyidae), represents one of the insects valued for its high quality protein, fat, and its ability to thrive on a variety of organic substances. Plant-based side streams have the potential to be used as feed for BSF even under strict rearing regulations. Feeding trials followed by chemical composition analyzes help in understanding the nutritional requirements of the larvae. The dependence of insect protein-producing industries on only a few by-products will change the scenario to create higher demand for these by-products. Therefore, combining several side streams could be a way to prepare a sustainable and economical diet. Besides larval dietary requirements, other factors also play a critical role in the development and maintenance of a BSF breed. When larvae are kept at a particularly high density, the temperatures of the substrate rise to peaks of up to 50 °C, resulting in morphological problems during ecdysis. We observed an increase in strongly helically deformed larvae at high stocking densities. Moreover, on an industrial scale, there is a risk that putative entomopathogenic microbes lead to monetary losses. Although the extent to which certain bacteria and fungi affect rearing success and yield is unclear, abundant microbes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa seem to slow down the growth of the larvae. Based on this, the susceptibility of BSF larvae to entomopathogenic bacteria and fungi is currently investigated. Finally, the mating of BSF depends on several factors. Due to seasonal fluctuations in sunlight, the identification of light sources with an adequate wavelength spectrum and energy efficiency acts as an important factor. The experimental results show that different LED light color treatments affected the oviposition peak. To this day, the targeted deposition of eggs also represents a bottleneck in BSF rearing. Here, a SPME-GC-MS based methodology was used to examine volatile substances that might influence the site of oviposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
