Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Black soldier fly larvae are converters of organic waste into edible biomass
and organic residue. This study investigated the feasibility of establishing
indigenous black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens colony on different diets.
Weighed oviposition traps were placed on five microhabitats to collect wild
egg clutches which were separately incubated in the laboratory on layer meal
diet. Thereafter, larvae were reared on layer meal-wheat bran mixtures and on
market waste fractions. Five- day old larvae were reared in 80 litre barrels at
different larval densities; 3,600, 4,800, 6,000 and 7,200 per 30kg dry weight of
formulated organic market waste to study the effect of density on larval
growth and biomass accumulation. Larvae of different ages; 4, 8 and 12 days
old were exposed to different temperatures; 35, 40, 45 and 50°C and reared on
layer meal diet to investigate the effects of temperature and age on larval
growth and development. H. illucens colony was successfully established from
57 wild egg clutches collected. Market waste fractions as larval diet had
significant effect on larval biomass and fecundity. Larval density of 4,800
produced significantly the highest growth in length and specific growth rate of
larvae. Age and temperature significantly influenced larval development and
fecundity. It was observed that larvae can withstand at least 4 hours of
sustained high temperatures up to 45oC and develop to adult. Wheat bran,
layer meal-reduced diet mixtures, vegetable waste, fruit waste, uncooked food
waste and their combinations were able to produce larval biomass and growth
rates that were similar to layer meal and therefore could be substitutes for the
standard layer meal diet, thus reducing cost of diet for mass rearing of black
soldier fly.
