Biology of black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), and its development and survival on different larval diets

Issue Date

10-2016

Abstract

The biology of the black soldier fly was studied under laboratory conditions in order to generate basic life history parameters that can be used in developing mass rearing method for the species. In a separate experiment, five kinds of larval diets were also assessed under laboratory conditions in terms of their effect on larval developmental rate, growth and survivorship of the black soldier fly. The total developmental period of black soldier fly from egg to adult ranged from 37.68 to 41.90 days with a mean of 39.79 ± 2.11 days. It passed through six larval instars over a period of 17.89 ± 0.50 days. The mean durations of its pre-pupal and pupal stages were: 7.68 ± 0.30 and 14.02 ± 0.77 days, respectively. Adult flies did not feed but the males lived for 10.17 ± 0.47 days while the females lived from 8.33 ± 0.57days. Life history parameters showed that the black soldier fly has a high reproductive rate and could be reared easily under confinement. The different larval diets tested varied significantly in terms of the rate development, survival, pupal weight and sex ration of the test insects. The vegetable, chicken dung and cow manure supported successfully the growth and development of the larvae but all those that are chicken entrail-based diets had very low survival rate. The vegetable diet produced the shortest development period and relatively heavy pupae but the resulting adults had male-biased sex ratio. The cow manure was comparable to the vegetable diet in terms of developmental rate, pupal weight, and had a more balanced sex ratio of the test insects. The results confirm earlier studies that black soldier flies prefer to inhabit decomposing materials of plant origin. Further studies should be done to evaluate other plant-based diets to optimize the rearing media and to assess the economic benefits if prepupae and pupae are used as animal feed.

Source or Periodical Title

The Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

30

Issue

2

Page

173

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

HERMETIA ILLUCENS; STRATIOMYIDAE; LIFE CYCLE; MASS REARING; LARVAL STAGES

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