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ABSTRACT: Due to consumer demands and institutional pressure, the egg production sector, is looking for alternative protein sources for laying hen feed to support more sustainable, circular production. black soldier fly (BSF) larvae could be used as a protein source. In addition to protein the larvae contain large quantities of fat and can either be fed to laying hens unprocessed (alive) or processed (meal and oil). The current study was performed with 560 Brown Nick laying hens from 20 to 27 wk of age. The laying hens were divided over 5 treatments, each replicated 8 times. Treatments consisted of standard laying hen feed (control) and standard feed in which soybean meal was partly exchanged with live BSF larvae or BSF larvae meal and oil combined, at 2 inclusion levels. During the experiment production parameters, egg-quality, and length and weight of various organs were measured.Laying hens fed BSF larvae products consumed less feed compared to those of the control group. Most egg production parameters were similar, however laying hens fed diets with BSF larvae meal plus oil produced eggs with lower egg weight during the last 2 wk of the experiment, compared to the control group. All egg-quality characteristics remained the same across treatments, except for darker yolk colors when feeding BSF meal and oil and high inclusion of live BSF larvae. This is a favorable characteristic for European consumers. The weight of intestinal organs was largely unaffected by the treatments. The jejunum and ileum weight of laying hens fed live larvae was lower compared to the control group. As FCRs were similar or improved compared to the control group, we assume that nutrient utilization was not impaired. For most detected differences the type of BSF larvae product (live larvae or meal plus oil) rather than inclusion level was of significance.

This study evaluated the effects of replacing dietary fish meal (FM) with defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal (DBSFLM) on growth, non-specific immunity, antioxidative capacity, intestinal histology and microbiota of juvenile Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). A control diet was designed to contain 200 g/kg FM (Con), then 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % of dietary FM was replaced by DBSFLM, referring to DBSFLM25, DBSFLM50, DBSFLM75 and DBSFLM100, respectively. The five isoproteic and isolipidic diets were fed to crab (7.15 ± 0.10 g) for 8 weeks. The results indicated that the final weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and survival of DBSFLM25 and DBSFLM50 groups all reached the same level as Con (P > 0.05). The proper DBSFLM replacement on WG and FCR from broken line model were 49.70 % and 52.90 %, respectively. For immune enzyme activity, ACP, ALP, and LZM activities showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, the DBSFLM50 group had the highest activity, and the DBSFLM100 group was significantly lower than the DBSFLM50 group (P < 0.05). In terms of antioxidant capacity, the T-AOC, T-SOD, GSH-Px activities and MDA content of DBSFLM25 DBSFLM50 and DBSFLM75 groups all shows no significant difference with Con (P > 0.05), the DBSFLM100 group has the lowest antioxidant enzyme activities and highest MDA content. The intestinal number of folds and folds height in DBSFLM25 and DBSFLM50 groups reached the same level as Con (P > 0.05). The abundance of intestinal harmful bacteria Vibrio was enhanced with the increase of dietary DBSFLM level (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the recommended level of replacing FM with DBSFLM was at 50 % (100 g/kg) without negative effect on growth, non-specific immunity, antioxidative capacity, intestinal histology and microbiota of Chinese mitten crab.

Globally, the yearly disposal of 1.3 billion tonnes of food raises environmental and public health concerns. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae present a sustainable solution, converting organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass. The extracted oil from BSF larvae, rich in fatty acids (FA), offers an eco-friendly alternative for the cosmetic industry. In this study, larvae sourced from a Portuguese company were fed olive pomace, a by-product of olive oil production.The lipidic sample extracted revealed a composition high in oleic acid, valuable for cosmetics. Investigating the biological activity of lipid extractions from larvae fed with olive pomace is a novel approach. Notably, the n-hexane ultrasound-assisted extraction method demonstrated potent antioxidant properties, and some extracts displayed antimicrobial activity. Five non-cytotoxic extracts; three with no relevant activity (IC50 from 236 to >400 μg/mL).These findings highlight BSF larvae as an environmentally friendly source of fatty acids, offering promising alternatives for diverse applications.

Brewery by-products are recognised as suitable rearing substrates for Hermetia illucens, better known as black soldier fly (BSF) but information about the impact of different ratios of brewer’s spent grains (BSG) and brewer’s spent yeast (BSY) are still scarce. This study evaluated the effects of BSG-BSY-based diets on BSF larval growth, survival, bioconversion efficiency, nutritional profile, and microbiota and mycobiota. A total of 3 000 6-day-old BSF larvae were allotted to five dietary treatments (six replicate boxes/diet, 100 larvae/box): (i) BSY2.5 (25 g/kg of BSY+975 g/kg of BSG), (ii) BSY5 (50 g/kg of BSY+950 g/kg of BSG), (iii) BSY7.5 (75 g/kg of BSY+925 g/kg of BSG), (iv) BSY10 (100 g/kg of BSY+900 g/kg of BSG), and (v) control (Gainesville diet). Larval weight and substrate pH were recorded every 4 days. At the end of the trial (5% of prepupae), bioconversion efficiency corrected for residue (BER), reduction rate (RR), and waste reduction index (WRI) were calculated, and the larval proximate composition, microbiota and mycobiota characterised. At 10 and 14 days of age, BSY7.5 and BSY10 larvae displayed higher weight than BSY2.5 and BSY5 (P 0.05). The BSY10 larvae displayed lower ether extract content than the other BSG-BSY-based diets (P > 0.001). The use of BSG-BSY-based diets did not influence the alpha diversity of larval microbiota and mycobiota (P > 0.05), but a specific microbial signature was identified per each dietary treatment (Porphyromonadaceae [BSY5], Sphingomonas [BSY7.5], Bacillus [BSY10] and Ruminococcus and Myroides [BSG-BSY-based diets]; P

The impact of a fishmeal-free, high plant-protein-based diet, in which vegetable proteins (VPs) were partially substituted with the proteins derived from Hermetia illucens pupae meal (Hi) was examined in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). The physiological response at the gastrointestinal level was investigated by considering the gene expression responses and histology at the liver, stomach, pyloric caeca, foregut, midgut, and hindgut. To this end, three iso-proteic (crude protein, Nx6.25, 45 %) and iso-lipidic (crude fat, 20 %) extruded diets were formulated. A control diet (CV), comprising a substantial proportion of vegetable plant-protein (VPs) derivatives, was formulated alongside two test diets. These were created by replacing graded levels of the VPs (20 and 40 %, respectively) with protein derived from Hi (Hi20 and Hi40, respectively). In all dietary treatments, the foregut, midgut, and hindgut exhibited general structural integrity, displaying intact intestinal folds, enterocytes, and no signs of inflammation. However, occasional mild lymphocytic infiltrations of the epithelium and lamina propria were observed in the pyloric caeca of the CV and Hi20 diets. The histological examination of the stomach revealed that the CV diet had induced moderately-severe lymphocytic gastritis, accompanied by a down-regulation of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70). Moderate lymphocytic infiltrations were observed in liver of fish fed with the CV diet, which correlated to a down-regulation of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Sod1). In the hindgut, an increase in the expression of Sod1, manganese superoxide dismutase (Sod2), and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (iap) and a decrease in the expression of hsp70 were observed in insect meal-containing diet relative to the CV. Overall, the present study showed that in sea bream a plant-protein based diet lacking in fishmeal negatively affects stomach mucosa, but HI included in a plant-protein-based diet helps in ameliorate histological distortion of tissue through specific correlated gene activations.

Rearing scale may influence black soldier fly (BSF) larvae traits when they are fed on a single diet, but different feeding substrates have not been tested yet. This study evaluated the effects of wheat starch processing by-products-based diets on growth performance, bioconversion efficiency, and nutritional profile of BSF larvae reared in different scales. Four diets (D1 and D2 [isonitrogenous, isolipidic and isoenergetic]; D3 and D4 [displaying 1:1 and 1:2 as protein to carbohydrate ratios, respectively]) were tested at 3 rearing scales (4 replicate boxes/diet, with a constant volume [0.84 cm3]/larva and feed [0.7 g]/larva): 1) small (S; 12 × 12 cm, substrate height: 4 cm, 686 6-day-old larvae (6-DOL)/box), 2) medium (M, 32 × 21 cm, substrate height: 7 cm, 5 600 6-DOL/box), and 3) large (L, 60 × 40 cm, substrate height: 7 cm, 20 000 6-DOL/box). Larval weight was recorded at the beginning of trial and every 4 days, and growth rate (GR), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival, bioconversion efficiency corrected for residue (BER), reduction rate (RR), and waste reduction index (WRI) calculated at the end of larval growth (frass DM ≥ 55%). Substrate pH, T and height were measured at the beginning, every 4 days, and end of trial. Larval proximate composition was analysed at the end of trial. Data were analysed by generalised linear mixed model (SPSS software, P

The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is attracting increasing interest for its ability to convert low-value substrates into highly nutritious feed. This study aimed at evaluating grape pomace from two varieties (Becuet – B; Moscato – M) as rearing substrates for black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), focusing on the related effects on larval growth performance, proximate composition, and fatty acid profile. A total of six replicates per treatment, and 1 000 BSFL per replica, were used. Larval development was assessed by larvae weight, which was recorded eight times during the trial: the day after the beginning of the trial, and then on days 5, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, and 27 (day in which the 30% of BSFL reached the prepupal stage). Production and waste reduction efficiency parameters, namely the growth rate, substrate reduction and substrate reduction index, were calculated. The two grape pomace varieties were analysed for their proximate composition and fatty acid profile; the same analyses were conducted on BSFL (30 larvae per replica) that were collected at the end of the trial (day 27). The growth rate of BSFL showed a higher value when the larvae were reared on B substrate (4.4 and 3.2 mg/day for B and M, respectively; P

This study investigates the potential of biodiesel production from Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae using organic waste. The aim of this research is to assess the feasibility of biodiesel production and its economic viability from BSF larvae. Specific objectives include analyzing organic waste quantity, moisture content, dry matter, BOD content, and biodiesel conversion efficiency. Our findings reveal that under various scales, biodiesel production from BSF larvae shows promise. For instance, in a small-scale urban biofuel plant, we estimate the production of approximately 122.73 liters of biodiesel per day from 1 ton of organic waste. Moreover, our calculations demonstrate the potential for medium-scale rural and large-scale industrial biofuel plants to produce 1,678.85 and 22,272.73 liters of biodiesel per day, respectively. These results highlight the significant biodiesel potential of BSF larvae. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the biodiesel production potential of BSF larvae. It underscores the feasibility of utilizing organic waste for biodiesel production, contributing to sustainable biofuel development. Our research contributes to the knowledge base by offering quantitative assessments of biodiesel potential. We have incorporated quantitative data to provide a clearer understanding of the biodiesel potential and its economic implications.

Over the past few years, there has been growing interest in the ability of insect larvae to convert various organic side-streams containing mycotoxins into insect biomass that can be used as animal feed. Various studies have examined the effects of exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on a variety of insect species, including the larvae of the black soldier fly (BSFL; Hermetia illucens L.; Diptera: Stratiomyidae) and the housefly (HFL; Musca domestica L.; Diptera: Muscidae). Most of these studies demonstrated that AFB1 degradation takes place, either enzymatic and/or non-enzymatic. The possible role of feed substrate microorganisms (MOs) in this process has thus far not been investigated. The main objective of this study was therefore to investigate whether biotransformation of AFB1 occurred and whether it is caused by insect-enzymes and/or by microbial enzymes of MOs in the feed substrate. In order to investigate this, sterile and non-sterile feed substrates were spiked with AFB1 and incubated either with or without insect larvae (BSFL or HFL). The AFB1 concentration was determined via LC-MS/MS analyses and recorded over time. Approximately 50% of the initially present AFB1 was recovered in the treatment involving BSFL, which was comparable to the treatment without BSFL (60%). Similar patterns were observed for HFL. The molar mass balance of AFB1 for the sterile feed substrates with BSFL and HFL was 73% and 78%, respectively. We could not establish whether non-enzymatic degradation of AFB1 in the feed substrates occurred. The results showed that both BSFL and substrate-specific MOs play a role in the biotransformation of AFB1 as well as in conversion of AFB1 into aflatoxin P1 and aflatoxicol, respectively. In contrast, HFL did not seem to contribute to AFB1 degradation. The obtained results contribute to our understanding of aflatoxin metabolism by different insect species. This information is crucial for assessing the safety of feeding fly larvae with feed substrates contaminated with AFB1 with the purpose of subsequent use as animal feed.

Recently, the global supply shortage of fish oil (FO) has resulted in rapid price increases, and aquatic feed is the largest consumption of FO. Black soldier fly larvae oil (Hermetia illucens) (HIO) is rich in lauric acid and has been suggested as a possible source of lipids for the aquatic diet. The current study aims to evaluate whether it is feasible to replace FO in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) (4.95 ± 0.10 g) with HIO and to investigate the effects of this substitution on growth, biochemical indices, approximately composition, expression of genes related to the immune, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant response. Five diets were formulated, which contained different replacements of FO with HIO; the substitution percentages were as follows: 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 %, respectively. The results indicated that PWG was improved when substitution percentage was less than 75 %; however, when substitution percentage was more than 50 %, the PWG decreased significantly. The lipid content of the hepatopancreas, muscle and whole body was markedly affected by substitution percentage. The fatty acid composition of hepatopancreas was positively relevant to that in the diets, and the lauric acid content was significantly elevated with the increment of HIO instead of FO in diets. The expression of lipid-related synthesis significantly increased at HIO100, and the lipolysis genes showed an upward trend. Substitution percentage has a significant impact on the expression of fatty acid transport. The proportion of FO replaced by HIO was increased from 0 % to 100 %, and the mRNA expression of immune-related genes was significantly upregulated. Moreover, the increased substitution percentage significantly increased the activities of hemolymph ACP, PPO and T-NOS. In summary, the effect of PWG on the replacement of HIO by FO in feed was analysed according to quadratic regression analysis, the optimal replacement levels were estimated to be 34.92 %.

The scope of the present study was to study the effect of different populations of Hermetia illucens, commonly known as black soldier fly (BSF), on the major components and volatile composition of the derived freeze-dried flours. Potential differences in the composition of different life cycle stages of BSF, i.e., larvae and pupae, were also investigated. The flours obtained from larvae of two BSF populations from Greece (GR) and Portugal (PO) (L-GR and L-PO, respectively) demonstrated similar major chemical compositions. Pupae (Pu-PO) were richer in chitin compared to larvae. Differences were spotted in their fatty acid profiles and volatile fractions. The saturated/unsaturated lipid fraction ratio was 1.5 in L-GR, higher in L-PO (2.5), and even higher in the case of Pu-PO (4.0). Seventeen (17) compounds were detected in the volatile fraction of the Pu-PO samples and 24 in the volatile fraction of the L-GR and L-PO samples. Notably, dodecanoic acid ethyl ester was the predominant volatile compound in all samples. The proteins of both larvae and pupae were dominated by β-sheet structures. The present study's findings are valuable for designing food or feed products based on BSF components and could be important for applying suitable manufacturing and processing procedures.

The present research investigated if intramuscular fatty acid (FA) profile could distinguish meat from ducks fed with black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) during fattening. By using stepwise linear discriminant analysis on FA profiles of 96 meat samples, lauric acid (C12:0) was found to be the best predictor, accurately differentiating samples with only two misclassifications. The Fisher classification functions indicated that breast samples with lauric acid content above 0.222 % in intramuscular fat would be classified as BSFLM-fed. The Fisher classification functions were also effective in other poultry species fed BSFLM, with only two misclassified samples out of 42 samples from a dataset compiled from published papers. Misclassifications were linked to an unexpected lauric acid content in the intramuscular fat. In conclusion, given that BSFLM is the only relevant source of lauric acid in the diet, this fatty acid could identify meat from BSFLM-fed ducks and possibly other poultry species, warranting further exploration of other FA as potential identifiers of BSFLM-fed poultry.

ABSTRACT: Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae have gained significant attention as ingredients for poultry feed to improve value chain circularity and sustainability. Black soldier fly larvae contain bioactive compounds which can potentially improve broiler health and thereby performance. However, the functionality of bioactive compounds likely depends on how larvae are processed prior to feeding and to which extent larvae products are included in the diet. This may explain the variable results reported in literature on broiler performance and carcass characteristics when feeding them different types of BSF larvae products at different inclusion levels. Therefore, the present research aimed to investigate the effects of different BSF larvae products and inclusion levels in diets on performance and carcass characteristics of slow-growing broilers. The experiment started with 1,728 one-day-old slow-growing male broilers (Hubbard JA757). Nine dietary treatments were used, each replicated eight times. One group of broilers was given a control diet. The following BSF larvae products were investigated: live larvae, a combination of BSF larvae meal and oil mimicking the nutritional composition of the live larvae, and BSF larvae meal and oil separately. All insect products were tested at two inclusion levels. All diet programs were nutritionally comparable (isoenergetic and based on balanced levels of digestible essential amino acids). During the 7-wk trial, several performance parameters and carcass characteristics were measured. The results show that comparable or better broiler performance was achieved with the inclusion of BSF larvae products in the diets compared to the control. Based on the feed conversion ratio (FCR), the unprocessed larvae product and the highest inclusion level led to the most favorable results. Carcass characteristics remained unchanged when BSF larvae products were used in the diets compared to the control group, indicating favorable production output. The BSF larvae products investigated seem suitable feed ingredients for broilers at the current levels tested, generating performance benefits.

Studies are lacking that investigate the dietary nutrient requirements of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), a newly farmed fish species in Ontario, Canada. Dietary levels of protein and lipid must be optimized to ensure high growth performance for the commercial success of this species. Additionally, the inclusion of insect meal in the diet may improve growth and immune response. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary protein:lipid ratios and insect meal as a feed additive on the growth performance and hepatic immune function of juvenile lake whitefish (301 ± 10 g). A 16-week (112 day) trial was performed with five diets including a commercial control diet (BCC), and four experimental diets with high or low levels of protein (54 and 48%, respectively) and lipid (18 and 12%, respectively). The high protein dietary groups contained 5% of full-fat black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens). Fish weights, viscera, liver, and blood were collected for further analysis. Specific growth rate, thermal growth coefficient and weight gain were significantly higher in fish fed with the BCC and high protein high lipid (HPHL) diets. However, viscerosomatic index was found to be significantly higher in fish fed the BCC diet, thus HPHL is more optimal for non-visceral weight gain. Higher levels of plasma phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase and potassium indicated poor growth and stress in fish fed low lipid diets. Relative expression of HSP70, involved in cellular repair, was significantly downregulated in fish fed high lipid diets, and no effects were found on the expression of innate immune and oxidative stress genes. Also, IL8 (CXCL8) and catalase were upregulated (non-significant) in fish fed the HPHL diet with the largest weight gain. No effects of insects were found on growth, plasma biochemistry or gene expression, which suggests 5% dietary inclusion was too low. Overall, we recommend a HPHL diet for the cultivation of lake whitefish based on improved growth performance, low viscera weight, improved plasma biochemistry and downregulation of cellular repair genes.

Genetic adaptation to new environmental conditions, such as changing diets, has always played a key role in the evolution of animals. Fish, in particular, have a great genetic potential for adaptability to regional environmental demands. Feeding diets devoid of marine resources to carnivorous fish species is paramount to enable fully sustainable aquaculture and independence of capture fisheries. Therefore, novel sources of protein substituting fishmeal in fish feed are of increasing interest in aquaculture. However, the use of plant-based protein sources in the diet of carnivorous fish is in controversial discussion because of their association with several issues related to food conversion, growth rate, fish health and welfare effects. The current study aims at making use of the genetic variability of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in order to gain new insights into their adaptability to innovative raw materials with a particular focus on the question of how the replacement of fishmeal by Arthospira platensis and Hermetia illucens in fish feed affects the intestinal health. Therefore, 20% fishmeal of the total composition was completely replaced in each case with Arthrospira platensis or Hermetia illucens. The results showed that the stress response, investigated by analysing the concentration of heat shock protein 70 in liver samples, proved to be at very low values for all investigated groups. A chronic stress exposure due to the supplementation could thus be excluded. Regarding growth, the genetic background played a decisive role. Despite morphological and histological changes in the anterior intestine of experimental feeding groups, no negative influence on growth could be detected. A significantly higher expression of occludin in the posterior intestine of the Arthrospira groups with respect to the epithelial barrier was noted. Altogether, no signs of cell infiltration were detected in the intestines of the animals despite the Arthrospira fed groups and one Hermetia fed group showing partially significantly higher gene expressions according to IL1β, TNFα and singular antimicrobial peptides than fish from other feedings. Therefore, the current study reveals that supplementing the fishmeal portion of rainbow trout diets with Arthrospira platensis or Hermetia illucens does not negatively affect fish health and animal welfare.

Due to consumer demands and institutional pressure, the egg production sector, is looking for alternative protein sources for laying hen feed to support more sustainable, circular production. black soldier fly (BSF) larvae could be used as a protein source. In addition to protein the larvae contain large quantities of fat and can either be fed to laying hens unprocessed (alive) or processed (meal and oil). The current study was performed with 560 Brown Nick laying hens from 20 to 27 wk of age. The laying hens were divided over 5 treatments, each replicated 8 times. Treatments consisted of standard laying hen feed (control) and standard feed in which soybean meal was partly exchanged with live BSF larvae or BSF larvae meal and oil combined, at 2 inclusion levels. During the experiment production parameters, egg-quality, and length and weight of various organs were measured. Laying hens fed BSF larvae products consumed less feed compared to those of the control group. Most egg production parameters were similar, however laying hens fed diets with BSF larvae meal plus oil produced eggs with lower egg weight during the last 2 wk of the experiment, compared to the control group. All egg-quality characteristics remained the same across treatments, except for darker yolk colors when feeding BSF meal and oil and high inclusion of live BSF larvae. This is a favorable characteristic for European consumers. The weight of intestinal organs was largely unaffected by the treatments. The jejunum and ileum weight of laying hens fed live larvae was lower compared to the control group. As FCRs were similar or improved compared to the control group, we assume that nutrient utilization was not impaired. For most detected differences the type of BSF larvae product (live larvae or meal plus oil) rather than inclusion level was of significance., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Marcel Dicke reports financial support was provided by Dutch Research Council. The project is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO; NWA programme, InsectFeed project, NWA.1160.18.144). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Heavy metal contamination has harmful consequences for the ecosystem. They are naturally non-biodegradable, and can cause severe ecotoxicity and numerous pathologies. Several bioadsorbents have been used for metal pollution control, and chitosan is one of the biomaterials that has proven to be an efficient adsorbent. The aim of the present work is to exploit the rearing waste of Hermetia illucens (prepupal cases), commonly known as the Black Soldier Fly (BSF), to produce chitin and its derivative chitosan by microwave-assisted process, and to study the interaction of this biopolymer with zinc and cadmium. All the samples obtained were characterized by several methods, including FTIR, XRD, TGA/DSC, 1 H NMR, SEM, and viscosimetric studies. The chitosan obtained has interesting physicochemical properties with an acetylation degree (DA) equal to 2.3 %, Molecular weight (M v ) equal to 155 kDa, and a crystallinity index (I Cr ) around 51.26 %. Chitosan was also found to have an adsorption capacity of Cd and Zn around 141.05 mg·g -1 and 45 mg·g -1 respectively by absorption atomic spectroscopy (AAS). Results confirm the effectiveness of chitosan derived from BSF, obtained through an eco-friendly method, as a sustainable and efficient bioadsorbent for addressing heavy metal contamination., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dietary live insect larvae were recently proposed for use in laying hens and broiler-intensive chicken farming as an innovative form of environmental enrichment, but their use in native dual-purpose chickens has never been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the effects of live black soldier fly (BSF) larvae as environmental enrichment in two autochthonous dual-purpose chicken breeds, namely Bionda Piemontese (BP) and Bianca di Saluzzo (BS), in terms of bird performance, behaviour, integument status, excreta corticosterone metabolites (ECMs), and microbiota analyses. A total of 90 BP and 90 BS hens aged 308 days old were randomly distributed between two treatment groups (three replicates/group/breed, 15 hens/replicate). For the following 90 days, the control group (C) was fed a commercial feed only, whereas the BSF group was fed the commercial diet plus BSF live larvae calculated at 6% of the expected daily feed intake (DFI). Larva ingestion time, bird performance, integument scores, and behavioural observations were assessed at regular intervals, and excreta samples were collected to evaluate ECM and microbiota. The larva ingestion time became faster over the course of the experimental trial (P < 0.001). The DFI of BSF-fed hens was lower than that of C hens independently of breed (P < 0.001), whereas only in the BS hens, the live weight of the BSF-fed group was greater than that of the C group (P < 0.01). The BSF-fed BP hens showed a higher laying rate and feed conversion ratio compared with BSF-BS (P < 0.05). Better total integument scores were observed in BSF-fed BP hens compared with C-birds (P < 0.05). The BSF-fed hens displayed higher frequencies of preening, trotting, and wing flapping than C, as well as a lower incidence of severe feather pecking (P < 0.05). An increase in allopreening was only identified in BSF-fed BS hens with respect to the C hens (P < 0.001). No differences in ECM and faecal microbiota were observed between treatment groups. In conclusion, the administration of BSF live larvae as environmental enrichment has the potential to positively influence the welfare of both BP and BS chickens, by enhancing the frequency of positive behaviours whilst reducing severe feather pecking, without affecting their excreta microbiota. BSF larva administration also has the potential to improve the productive performance and the plumage status of the BP breed., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL; Hermetia illucens) hold promise for converting biowaste into proteins and lipids for feed. Dietary starch is efficiently digested by the larvae and influences larval performance, but the mechanisms of starch digestion remain poorly understood. This study investigated changes in individual weight and amylase activity in BSFL after 4, 7 and 11 days of feeding for five substrates varying in starch content and type: chicken feed (CF), corn gluten feed (CGF), wheat bran (WB), wheat distillers grain (WDG) and discarded potatoes (DP). Substrate amylase activities were also measured with and without larvae (feeding and fermenting trays, respectively) over time in order to explore external digestion. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and estimated digestibility (ED) of DM and starch were assessed at the end of the experiment. The ranking for best FCR was CF, WB, CGF, WDG and DP. In feeding trays, ED of DM was 69.8 ± 1.8, 59.5 ± 2.9, 58.6 ± 0.7, 45.4 ± 0.6 and 19.5 ± 0.8% in CF, DP, WB, CGF and WDG, respectively. Estimated digestibility of starch reached 100% with WB and CGF, followed by CF (88.2 ± 2.3%), DP (85.2 ± 1.2%) and WDG (43.1 ± 1.0%). Larval amylase activity increased with growth for all substrates and dropped when approaching pupation. No relationship was found between larval amylase activity and substrate starch or other nutrient content, but a negative correlation was reported with the reducing sugar content of the larvae, suggesting glucose repression of amylase production. Amylase activity decreased with time in all feeding and fermenting substrates except WDG and DP. In vitro degradation assays indicated that BSFL amylase was nine times more efficient on raw corn or wheat starch than on raw potato starch, highlighting that starch structure is a major driver of digestibility. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of BSFL amylase in the feeding substrate, hinting at external digestion. Larval amylase was purified to identify its optimal pH (5.0-6.5) and temperature (70 °C). These results highlight that starch content is not a major driver of amylase activity in BSFL and suggest that other non-investigated factors could have had a crucial impact on the activity of larval digestive enzymes, such as microbial community of the substrate and presence of amylase inhibitors. This study also provides insights into the evolution of BSFL digestive activity during their development and the occurrence of external digestion., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Organic waste including food garbage (FG) forms a major part of man-made problems that are highly associated with global pollution. This includes emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and foul odor which negatively affect human health. Interestingly, bioconversion of FG by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) has been reported to reduce foul odors released from decaying FG. This paper will give overview on the potential of BSFL in lowering putrid odors from FGs. Thus, various bioconversion treatment methods of managing FG including were compared and discussed. The life cycle and role of BSF in reducing putrid odors from biowastes were also discussed in detail. Lastly, the potential utilization of BSFL in controlling odors and GHGs as well as the economic value of products derived from BSFL bioconversion were also discussed. BSFL inoculation slightly reduces odor compounds by modifying odor-producing compounds and microbes in FG. However, BSFL effectiveness is highly influenced by FG decomposition rate., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Brewery by-products are recognised as suitable rearing substrates for Hermetia illucens, better known as black soldier fly (BSF) but information about the impact of different ratios of brewer's spent grains (BSG) and brewer's spent yeast (BSY) are still scarce. This study evaluated the effects of BSG-BSY-based diets on BSF larval growth, survival, bioconversion efficiency, nutritional profile, and microbiota and mycobiota. A total of 3 000 6-day-old BSF larvae were allotted to five dietary treatments (six replicate boxes/diet, 100 larvae/box): (i) BSY2.5 (25 g/kg of BSY+975 g/kg of BSG), (ii) BSY5 (50 g/kg of BSY+950 g/kg of BSG), (iii) BSY7.5 (75 g/kg of BSY+925 g/kg of BSG), (iv) BSY10 (100 g/kg of BSY+900 g/kg of BSG), and (v) control (Gainesville diet). Larval weight and substrate pH were recorded every 4 days. At the end of the trial (5% of prepupae), bioconversion efficiency corrected for residue (BER), reduction rate (RR), and waste reduction index (WRI) were calculated, and the larval proximate composition, microbiota and mycobiota characterised. At 10 and 14 days of age, BSY7.5 and BSY10 larvae displayed higher weight than BSY2.5 and BSY5 (P < 0.05), with BSY10 larvae showing the highest weight among the BSG-BSY-based diets at the end of the trial (P < 0.05). The BSY7.5 and BSY10 larvae also displayed a better BER than BSY2.5 and BSY5 (P < 0.01), whereas similar RR, WRI, survival and development time, as well as pH, were, however, observed among the BSG-BSY-based diets (P > 0.05). The BSY10 larvae displayed lower ether extract content than the other BSG-BSY-based diets (P > 0.001). The use of BSG-BSY-based diets did not influence the alpha diversity of larval microbiota and mycobiota (P > 0.05), but a specific microbial signature was identified per each dietary treatment (Porphyromonadaceae [BSY5], Sphingomonas [BSY7.5], Bacillus [BSY10] and Ruminococcus and Myroides [BSG-BSY-based diets]; P < 0.05). Co-occurrence and co-exclusion analysis also showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia excluded and favoured, respectively, the presence of Streptomyces and Fluviicola, while Clavispora lusitaniae was associated with Myroides (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BSG-BSY-based diets are suitable for rearing HI in terms of larval performance, nutritional profile, and microbiota and mycobiota, with 7.5 and 10% of BSY inclusion levels being able to improve larval growth and bioconversion efficiency., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the available literature, there are limited data about the energetic value of insect-derived products. In particular, insect fat cannot be used in practical broiler nutrition due to the lack of precise apparent metabolisable energy (AME) value. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the AME and apparent metabolisable energy corrected to zero nitrogen balance (AMEN) levels of Hermetia illucens larvae fat for broiler chickens of various ages. A total of 400 1-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary groups (10 replicate pens per treatment; 10 birds per pen). The following treatments were applied: HI0 – basal diet without dietary fat inclusion, HI03 – basal diet enriched with 30 g/kg H. illucens larvae fat, HI06 – basal diet enriched with 60 g/kg H. illucens larvae fat, and HI09 – basal diet enriched with 90 g/kg H. illucens larvae fat. Broilers had ad libitum access to mash form feed and water. Excreta samples were collected on d 14, d 28, and d 35. To determine the AME and AMEN values of H. illucens larvae fat, the simple linear regression method was used. The results show that the AME and AMEN values of H. illucens larvae fat for broiler chickens are 9 049 kcal/kg (37.86 MJ/kg) and 9 019 kcal/kg (37.74 MJ/kg), respectively. Additionally, because the birds’ age significantly (P

Insects are a natural source of feed for fish and have received more attention as a potential source of sustainable high-quality protein. However, contrasting results in different feeding trials have been ascribed to the chitin contained in the exoskeleton of insects and highlighted the importance of developing reliable methods for the quantification of chitin to draw meaningful conclusions about its effect on fish health. A rapid method based on the hydrolysis of chitin into glucosamine and further quantification by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry is evaluated. The method offers good selectivity, linearity, limit of detection (1.08 × 10−5 % w/v or 5.38 × 10−4 % w/w), limit of quantification (3.26 × 10−5 % w/v or 1.63 × 10−3 % w/w), trueness (88.39–109.29 %) and precision (2.24–10.72 %). The quantitative method was successfully applied to real samples of fish feed supplemented with chitin from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae.

Insect meals are considered among the most promising feed materials in fish nutrition due to their sustainability and possibility of fish meal replacement. The present study is the first application of full-fat black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal in brown trout (Salmo trutta m. fario) diets. Two experiments were performed on 240 brown trout fingerlings (average body mass 4.85 g) distributed into four groups (12 tanks for the growth performance experiment, 10 fish/tank; and 12 metabolic tanks for the digestibility test, 10 fish/tank). The experimental group design was conducted as follows: control diet, with no BSFL and 35% fish meal, and experimental diets: BSFL5 – with 5% BSFL full-fat meal and 32.5% fish meal; BSFL10 – with 10% BSFL full-fat meal and 30% fish meal; and BSFL20 – with 20% BSFL full-fat meal and 25% fish meal. No effects were recorded in the case of growth performance and feed utilization parameters. The environmental sustainability of the usage of insect meals in fish diets was proven – due to the lower fish meal inclusion, the fish-in-fish-out ratio decreased by 31% in BSFL20. In the case of the viscerosomatic index, increases in BSFL5 and BSFL20 were reported. In all experimental groups, decreases in hepatosomatic index values were observed. Crude protein digestibility decreased in BSFL5 and BSFL20, while crude fat digestibility decreased only in the BSFL20 group. The effect of including BSFL full-fat meal in a brown trout diet on serum biochemical parameters was reported. The aspartate transaminase concentration increased in BSFL10 and BSFL20, while the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase values decreased in BSFL20. In the case of total cholesterol, higher values were observed in BSFL10 and BSFL20. The albumin content decreased in the BSFL20 group, while globulin showed the highest values in the control group. The microbiota composition was not affected by insect meal inclusion. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed the high potential of BSFL full-fat meal application of up to 20% in a brown trout diet.

There is an increasingly growing demand for the use of natural and sustainable bioactives in the field of the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The biomass from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) can be viewed as an innovative source of compounds with high aggregate value and marketing potential due to the sustainable organic matter bioconversion process used as substrate for its development. This insect can be a source of lipid compounds with high added value, mainly due to its high content in fatty acids (FA) with potential applicability in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. In this context, in this work different extraction methods were tested (decoction, microwaves, maceration and ultrasound), using water, acetone, n-hexane as extraction solvents, to evaluate yields of the BSF larvae lipid extracts, as well as their lipid profile, and a preliminary safety screening was conducted. Results show that despite using different extraction techniques and solvents, similar FA composition profiles were obtained. The lauric acid content (C12: 0) is elevated in all the extracts in relation to the other FA, ranging 37%–62%. The contents in palmitic (C16: 0) and oleic (C18: 1n-9) acids, were also high in all applied extraction methods. The omega-6 FA (ω-6 PUFAs), mainly linoleic acid (C18: 2n6c), were also identified in the lipid fraction of BSF larvae biomass, with a content variation between 4.5% and 17.7%, while the omega-3 group, namely α-Linolenic acid (C18: 3n3), presented values between 0.66% and 1.95%. None of the extracts presented toxicity in preliminary tests with the Artemia salina model. Through this study, it was possible to confirm that BSF larvae oil can be obtained by sustainable methods, containing a broad mixture of FA and being highly rich in lauric acid, with a promising skin care applicability.

Rearing scale may influence black soldier fly (BSF) larvae traits when they are fed on a single diet, but different feeding substrates have not been tested yet. This study evaluated the effects of wheat starch processing by-products-based diets on growth performance, bioconversion efficiency, and nutritional profile of BSF larvae reared in different scales. Four diets (D1 and D2 [isonitrogenous, isolipidic and isoenergetic]; D3 and D4 [displaying 1:1 and 1:2 as protein to carbohydrate ratios, respectively]) were tested at 3 rearing scales (4 replicate boxes/diet, with a constant volume [0.84 cm 3 ]/larva and feed [0.7 g]/larva): 1) small (S; 12 × 12 cm, substrate height: 4 cm, 686 6-day-old larvae (6-DOL)/box), 2) medium (M, 32 × 21 cm, substrate height: 7 cm, 5 600 6-DOL/box), and 3) large (L, 60 × 40 cm, substrate height: 7 cm, 20 000 6-DOL/box). Larval weight was recorded at the beginning of trial and every 4 days, and growth rate (GR), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival, bioconversion efficiency corrected for residue (BER), reduction rate (RR), and waste reduction index (WRI) calculated at the end of larval growth (frass DM ≥ 55%). Substrate pH, T and height were measured at the beginning, every 4 days, and end of trial. Larval proximate composition was analysed at the end of trial. Data were analysed by generalised linear mixed model (SPSS software, P < 0.05). The D1 larvae showed higher weight, GR, SGR and WRI (along with higher substrate T) than D2 at M scale, while increased SGR and FCR - as well as decreased survival, RR and WRI - were observed in D2 larvae at S scale (P < 0.05). Larval CP and ether extract (EE) contents were influenced by M and L scales only, being higher in D2 group than in D1 (P < 0.001). Differently, decreased ash was recorded in D2 larvae when reared at S and M scales, while L scale revealed higher ash in D2 group than D1 (P < 0.001). The D3 larvae displayed greater weight, SGR, survival, RR and WRI (along with greater substrate T) than D4 at M scale, with increased survival and substrate T being also highlighted in L scale (P < 0.05). The D3 larvae also showed lower DM and EE - as well as higher CP - than D4 at all the rearing scales (P < 0.001). In conclusion, D1 and D3 led to better BSF larval growth performance, bioconversion efficiency and nutritional profile mainly at M and L scales, as a consequence of their ability to facilitate larval aggregation and, in turn, allow achieving a higher substrate T., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is attracting increasing interest for its ability to convert low-value substrates into highly nutritious feed. This study aimed at evaluating grape pomace from two varieties (Becuet - B; Moscato - M) as rearing substrates for black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), focusing on the related effects on larval growth performance, proximate composition, and fatty acid profile. A total of six replicates per treatment, and 1 000 BSFL per replica, were used. Larval development was assessed by larvae weight, which was recorded eight times during the trial: the day after the beginning of the trial, and then on days 5, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, and 27 (day in which the 30% of BSFL reached the prepupal stage). Production and waste reduction efficiency parameters, namely the growth rate, substrate reduction and substrate reduction index, were calculated. The two grape pomace varieties were analysed for their proximate composition and fatty acid profile; the same analyses were conducted on BSFL (30 larvae per replica) that were collected at the end of the trial (day 27). The growth rate of BSFL showed a higher value when the larvae were reared on B substrate (4.4 and 3.2 mg/day for B and M, respectively; P < 0.01). The rearing substrate did not significantly affect the proximate composition of BSFL. The percentage of total lipids (TL) in M-fed BSFL was significantly higher than in B ones. Total saturated (P < 0.001) and monounsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in M-fed BSFL, while an opposite trend was observed for total branched-chain (P < 0.001) and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.001). Interestingly, some conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers [i.e., C18:2 c9t11(+t7c9+t8c10) and t9t11] were detected in low amounts in both rearing substrates (total CLA equal to 0.085 and 0.16 g/100 g TL in B and M substrate, respectively). Some CLA isomers (i.e., C18:2 c9t11, t7c9, and t10c12) were also found in BSFL, reaching a total CLA concentration equal to 2.95 and 0.052 g/100 g of TL in B-fed and M-fed BSFL, respectively. This study demonstrates that winery by-products from different grape varieties can significantly affect the development and lipid composition of BSFL. The CLA biosynthesis potential of BSFL opens newsworthy perspectives for a new valorisation of winery by-products to produce full-fat black soldier fly meal and black soldier fly oil enriched in specific fatty acids of potential health-promoting interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Post-harvest water loss and microbial infections are the root cause of the rapid deterioration of fresh fruit after the picking process, with both environmental and economic implications. Therefore, it is crucial to find solutions that can increase the shelf life of fresh fruits. For this purpose, edible coatings, naturally derived and non-synthetic, are acknowledged as a safe strategy. Among polymeric coatings, chitosan is one of the most effective. In this work, this biopolymer, produced from chitin extracted from Hermetia illucens, an alternative and more sustainable source than crustaceans (the commercial one), was exploited to extend the shelf life of white and red grapes. Chitosan from H. illucens pupal exuviae, at 0.5 % and 1 % concentrations, was applied on both grapes, which were then stored at room temperature or 4 °C. The study of chemical-physical parameters such as weight loss, Total Soluble Solids and pH, demonstrated the effectiveness of the biopolymer, even better than crustacean chitosan. Moreover, the analysis of nutraceutical properties has demonstrated that this natural edible coating improves the quality of grapes, with beneficial effects for human health. The obtained results, therefore, confirmed the viability of using insect-chitosan as an alternative to crustaceans for the preservation of fresh food., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Eric Schmitt reports a relationship with Protix that includes: employment. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Over the past few years, there has been growing interest in the ability of insect larvae to convert various organic side-streams containing mycotoxins into insect biomass that can be used as animal feed. Various studies have examined the effects of exposure to aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) on a variety of insect species, including the larvae of the black soldier fly (BSFL; Hermetia illucens L.; Diptera: Stratiomyidae) and the housefly (HFL; Musca domestica L.; Diptera: Muscidae). Most of these studies demonstrated that AFB 1 degradation takes place, either enzymatic and/or non-enzymatic. The possible role of feed substrate microorganisms (MOs) in this process has thus far not been investigated. The main objective of this study was therefore to investigate whether biotransformation of AFB 1 occurred and whether it is caused by insect-enzymes and/or by microbial enzymes of MOs in the feed substrate. In order to investigate this, sterile and non-sterile feed substrates were spiked with AFB 1 and incubated either with or without insect larvae (BSFL or HFL). The AFB 1 concentration was determined via LC-MS/MS analyses and recorded over time. Approximately 50% of the initially present AFB 1 was recovered in the treatment involving BSFL, which was comparable to the treatment without BSFL (60%). Similar patterns were observed for HFL. The molar mass balance of AFB 1 for the sterile feed substrates with BSFL and HFL was 73% and 78%, respectively. We could not establish whether non-enzymatic degradation of AFB 1 in the feed substrates occurred. The results showed that both BSFL and substrate-specific MOs play a role in the biotransformation of AFB 1 as well as in conversion of AFB 1 into aflatoxin P 1 and aflatoxicol, respectively. In contrast, HFL did not seem to contribute to AFB 1 degradation. The obtained results contribute to our understanding of aflatoxin metabolism by different insect species. This information is crucial for assessing the safety of feeding fly larvae with feed substrates contaminated with AFB 1 with the purpose of subsequent use as animal feed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: J.J.A. van Loon, E.F. Hoek- van den Hil, H.J. van der Fels-Klerx report that financial support was provided by Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Utrecht. H.J. van der Fels-Klerx reports was provided by Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of partially defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI) larva meal on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domestica). A total of 192 female ducks aged 3 d were divided between 4 dietary treatments (6 pens/treatment; 8 birds/pen), characterized by increasing levels of substitution of corn gluten meal with HI meal (0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%; HI0, HI3, HI6, and HI9, respectively), and reared until 50 days of age. Twelve birds/treatment (2 birds/pen) were slaughtered on d 51 to evaluate the slaughter traits (i.e., carcass, breast, thigh, and organs weights), carcass yield and meat quality. The slaughter weight, hot and chilled carcass weights, and abdominal fat weight showed a quadratic response to HI meal (minimum for the HI6 group, P < 0.05). Dietary HI meal inclusion did not influence the ultimate pH, the color, the proximate composition or the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values in either the breast or thigh meat. The mineral profile of the meat was slightly affected by the dietary treatment, with a linear increase in the Cu content of the thigh meat (P < 0.05), whereas no differences were observed for Zn, Mn, or Fe. Dietary HI meal inclusion increased the saturated fatty acid rate in the thigh meat (maximum for the HI9 group, P < 0.05), and the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid content in the breast meat (maximum for the HI0 and HI9 groups, respectively, P < 0.05). The ∑n-6/∑n-3 ratio decreased linearly in both the breast and thigh meat, with the HI9 group showing the lowest values (P < 0.05). Finally, the heavy metal concentrations were below the EU limits for poultry meat. To conclude, the inclusion up to 9% of partially defatted HI larva meal in the diet of Muscovy ducks did not affect the slaughter traits or the meat quality, although it did affect the meat fatty acid profile.

Promoting black soldier fly (BSF) rearing in Benin to replace fishmeal in fish diet could reduce fish production costs. This study aims to set up a breeding technique of BSF as a protein source. BSF reproduction has been carried out in sunlight. Two densities (8500 individuals/m3 and 10,500 individuals/m3) associated with 2 attractants (soybean and pineapple waste) were tested on imago egg-laying. A larvarium with a prepupae self-harvesting system was designed and its efficiency was evaluated by testing 3 densities of larval rearing (1 larva/g, 2 larva/g, 3 larva/g). Two diets, VGD (soybean meal ​+ ​euphorbia leaves and seeds ​+ ​colza oil) and FOD (soybean meal ​+ ​fish offal) were formulated to optimize polyunsaturated fatty acid profile of prepupae to meet nutritional requirements of tilapia. Best oviposition was obtained with 8500 individuals/m3 with pineapple waste and optimal larval load density was 2 larva/g. Prepupae fed with VGD accumulated C18:2n-6 (10.1%) which is essential for tilapia. Prepupae fed with FOD contained C20:5n-3 (2.20%), a fatty acid beneficial to humans. The lowest production cost of BSF meal was estimated at $1.84/Kg and was obtained with the FOD diet. BSF can easily be reared under local conditions throughout the year. Its nutritional qualities are very interesting to meet Nile tilapia requirements.

Finding insect meals as alternative sources of poultry feedstuffs is a recent research topic; therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L., HI) larvae meal in broiler chicken diets on the carcass characteristics and meat quality parameters, proximate composition, fatty acid profile and the heavy metal content of the breast meat. Four dietary treatments were designed: a control diet (HI0) and three experimental diets (HI5, HI10 and HI15), corresponding to 50, 100 and 150 g/kg HI inclusion levels, respectively. The inclusion of 50, 100 and 150 g HI meal per kg feed supply 16.56%, 33.01% and 49.63% of required crude protein. The broilers were slaughtered at day 35, the carcasses were weighed and the breast muscles were excised from 16 birds per each feeding group (two birds per replicate pens) and used for meat quality evaluation. Linear and quadratic responses were observed, for increasing HI meal levels, in the live and carcass weights (maximum for HI10). As far as the colour of the breast meat is concerned, redness (a*) showed a linear response, while yellowness (b*) linearly decreased with increasing HI meal levels (minimum for HI15). As the HI larvae meal increased in the diets, the moisture content linearly decreased and the protein content increased. The total saturated fatty acid and total monounsaturated fatty acid proportions rose to the detriment of the polyunsaturated fatty acid fraction. The HI larvae meal, used in the current study, represents a valuable protein source for broiler chickens when included by up to 100 g/kg in their diets, as an improved slaughtering performance was observed without any detrimental effects on meat quality parameters or heavy metal residues in the meat.

Currently, there is a great interest in finding alternative protein and energy sources to replace soybean-based feeds in poultry diets. The main objective of the present study was to completely replace soybean in layer diets with defatted meal and fat from black soldier fly larvae without adverse effects. For this purpose, 5 × 10 Lohmann Brown Classic hens were fed either a soybean-based diet or diets based on defatted black soldier fly larvae meal and fat from 2 producers (1 commercial, 1 small-scale) operating with different rearing substrates, temperatures, and larvae processing methods (10 hens/diet). The data obtained included nutrient composition of larvae meals and diets, amino acid digestibility (6 hens/diet), and metabolizability, performance and egg quality (all 10 hens/diet). In addition, the acceptance of the 4 larvae-based diets was tested against the soybean-based diet in a 6-day choice feeding situation (10 hens/treatment). The nutritional value of the larvae-based diets was equivalent to the soybean-based diet in hens with a laying performance of 98%. Although average feed intake was not significantly different over the 7 experimental weeks, the diets based on larvae feeds from the small-scale production appeared to be slightly less accepted in a choice situation than the soy-based diet and those with larvae from commercial origin. This was more likely the effect of the larvae fat rather than that of the larvae protein meal. In addition, the commercial larvae material was superior to that from the small-scale production concerning supply with digestible sulfur-containing amino acids (548 vs. 511 mg/day) and lysine (792 vs. 693 mg/day), egg weight (67 vs. 63 g), daily egg mass (66 vs. 61 g/day) and, in tendency, feed efficiency. The results indicate that soybean-based feeds can be replaced completely by black soldier fly meal and fat in diets of high-performing layers. However, because of nutritional differences between the larvae materials of different origin the quality of the larvae has to be closely monitored before being used.

Hermetia illucens larvae are recognized for their ability to mitigate or eliminate contaminants by biodegradation. However, the biodegradation characteristics of microplastics and phthalic acid esters plasticizers, as well as the role of larval gut microorganisms, have remained largely unrevealed. Here, the degradation kinetics of plasticizers, and biodegradation characteristics of microplastics were examined. The role of larval gut microorganisms was investigated. For larval development, microplastics slowed larval growth significantly (P < 0.01), but the effect of plasticizer was not significant. The degradation kinetics of plasticizers were enhanced, resulting in an 8.11 to 20.41-fold decrease in degradation half-life and a 3.34 to 3.82-fold increase in final degradation efficiencies, compared to degradation without larval participation. The depolymerization and biodeterioration of microplastics were conspicuously evident, primarily through a weight loss of 17.63 %-25.52 %, variation of chemical composition and structure, bio-oxidation and bioerosion of microplastic surface. The synergistic effect driven by larval gut microorganisms, each with various functions, facilitated the biodegradation. Specifically, Ignatzschineria, Paenalcaligenes, Moheibacter, Morganella, Dysgonomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Bacteroides, Sphingobacterium, etc., appeared to be the key contributors, owing to their xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism functions. These findings offered a new perspective on the potential for microplastics and plasticizers biodegradation, assisted by larval gut microbiota., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae have gained significant attention as ingredients for poultry feed to improve value chain circularity and sustainability. Black soldier fly larvae contain bioactive compounds which can potentially improve broiler health and thereby performance. However, the functionality of bioactive compounds likely depends on how larvae are processed prior to feeding and to which extent larvae products are included in the diet. This may explain the variable results reported in literature on broiler performance and carcass characteristics when feeding them different types of BSF larvae products at different inclusion levels. Therefore, the present research aimed to investigate the effects of different BSF larvae products and inclusion levels in diets on performance and carcass characteristics of slow-growing broilers. The experiment started with 1,728 one-day-old slow-growing male broilers (Hubbard JA757). Nine dietary treatments were used, each replicated eight times. One group of broilers was given a control diet. The following BSF larvae products were investigated: live larvae, a combination of BSF larvae meal and oil mimicking the nutritional composition of the live larvae, and BSF larvae meal and oil separately. All insect products were tested at two inclusion levels. All diet programs were nutritionally comparable (isoenergetic and based on balanced levels of digestible essential amino acids). During the 7-wk trial, several performance parameters and carcass characteristics were measured. The results show that comparable or better broiler performance was achieved with the inclusion of BSF larvae products in the diets compared to the control. Based on the feed conversion ratio (FCR), the unprocessed larvae product and the highest inclusion level led to the most favorable results. Carcass characteristics remained unchanged when BSF larvae products were used in the diets compared to the control group, indicating favorable production output. The BSF larvae products investigated seem suitable feed ingredients for broilers at the current levels tested, generating performance benefits., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In order to study the effects of replacement of soybean meal (SM) with defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) in grass carp production practice, juvenile grass carps with initial body weight of (10.10 ± 0.28) g were selected for subsequent tests. Five isolipidic (49.1–50.3 g kg−1) and isonitrogen (321.4–327.8 g kg-1) experimental diets were formulated by replacing 0 % (SM), 25% (BSFLM25), 50% (BSFLM50), 75% (BSFLM75) and 100% (BSFLM100) of SM with BSFLM, respectively. After 56 days of feeding, the changes of growth performance, body composition, serum biochemical indexes, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal and liver tissue structure, and intestinal microbiota of grass carp were detected. The results showed that there were no significant differences in growth, feed efficiency and muscle proximate compositions among the treatment groups. The BSFLM100 group had significantly higher TG content than the other groups. Catalase activity was significantly increased in BSFLM25 and BSFLM50 groups compared with that in the SM group. The activities of amylase and lipase in BSFLM50, BSFLM75, and BSFLM100 groups were lower than the control group. Compared with the SM group, the intestinal villi length and the thickness of the intestinal wall of BSFLM75 and BSFLM100 groups were decreased. Gut microbiota analysis showed no significant changes in the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) diversity and richness indices among treatments. However, the abundance of Aeromonas and Shewanella decreased significantly after substitution with BSFLM. These results show that there was no negative effect on growth performance and improved the antioxidant capacity of grass carp when dietary SM complete replacement by BSFLM. However, when the replacement level exceeds 50 %, intestinal histomorphology may be damaged.

A ten-week feeding trial on Monopterus albus (initial weight 24.02 ± 0.02 g) was conducted to evaluate effects of four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets in which different proportions of fish meal (0, 2.5 %, 5% and 7.5 %) were substituted with Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae meal, corresponding to dietary inclusion levels of 0 (FM), 5.26 % (HI5.26), 10.52 % (HI10.52) and 15.78 % (HI15.78). Compared with FM, weight gain rate and condition factor of M. albus and gumminess and adhesiveness of its muscle tissue were significantly increased in HI5.26 and HI10.52 groups (P < 0.05); whereas feed conversion ratio was markedly decreased in HI5.26 (P < 0.05), and expression of hepatic FASD2 and ME2 was significantly upregulated in HI5.26 (P < 0.05). Compared with FM, cohesiveness of muscle was significantly decreased in HI groups, but hardness of muscle and expression of hepatic FAS were remarkably upregulated in HI groups (P < 0.05); ACC and ME1 mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in HI10.52 (P < 0.05); CPT2 mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in HI5.26 and HI15.78 (P < 0.05); PPARγ, G6PD and HSL mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in HI10.52 and HI15.78 (P < 0.05). Springiness and chewiness of muscle, activity of intestinal lipasewere, serum indexes (glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, catalase, malondialdehyde), several gut bacterial indices (shannon, chao1, ACE, OTUs abundance of proteobacterias) and abundance of hepatic PPARα mRNA in HI15.78 were remarkably lower than those in FM (P < 0.05), while content of crude lipid, gut firmicutes and hepatic Dgat2 mRNA were significantly lower than FM (P < 0.05). Results showed that HI improved growth performance and balance of gut bacteria of M. albus when supplemented at a rate below 15.78 %, but negative effects on lipid metabolism were observed when HI was supplemented at excessive levels.

The present research studied the effect of a dietary inclusion with Hermetia illucens larvae meal (Hi) on rainbow trout’s fillets chemical composition. The effect of Hi inclusion in diets on rainbow trout chemical characteristics was evaluated. Trout were fed three different diets: control (C, no Hi inclusion), 25% and 50% of substitution of fish meal with Hi (Hi25 and Hi50, respectively). Fillets were analysed to quantify proximate composition, carbohydrates percentage, colour parameters, nucleotides concentration, fatty acids profile, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic concentrations. Diets did not affect proximate composition. Contrariwise, Hi50 diet decreased fillet yellowness and both substitution percentages affected negatively adenosine monophosphate concentration. Saturated fatty acids, mostly C12 : 0, increased their contents in relation with Hi inclusion at the expense of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated (both n-3 and n-6) fatty acids. Less modifications were reported in VOCs as only heptanal and octanal concentrations were affected, no new compounds appeared in relation with Hi inclusion. No modifications in proteins patterns were shown even if myofibrillar content decreased in trout fed Hi50. The results highlighted that chemical modifications occurred in fillets were related to the chemical composition of the H. illucens meal and to the percentage of inclusion in the diet. Substitution of fish meal with a precisely percentage of H. illucens meal could be a potential future solution in order to decrease the quantity of fish meal used in aquafeeds.

Soya bean is the main protein source in poultry feed but rising prices make an alternative protein source necessary. Insects, such as the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), may be an attractive solution for hens, although little information is available on their effect on egg quality. The present study aims to fill this gap by testing the effect of 100% replacement of soya bean with H. illucens larva meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens for 21 weeks. At the end of the trial, the eggs were characterized for parameters such as weight, colour, proximate composition of albumen and yolk, and content of carotenoids, tocopherols and cholesterol. The fatty acid profile of yolks was also determined. Hens fed the insect-based diet produced eggs (HIM group) with a higher proportion of yolk than the group fed the soya bean-based diet (SBM group). HIM was associated with redder yolks (red index 5.63 v. 1.36) than SBM. HIM yolks were richer in γ-tocopherol (4.0 against 2.4 mg/kg), lutein (8.6 against 4.9 mg/kg), β-carotene (0.33 against 0.19 mg/kg) and total carotenoids (15 against 10.5 mg/kg) than SBM yolks. The fatty acid composition of HIM yolks was almost identical to that of SBM yolks. Finally, HIM yolks contained 11% less cholesterol than SBM yolks. These results suggest that H. illucens larva meal is a suitable total substitute for soya bean meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens. A sustainable alternative to the plant protein source therefore seems feasible.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of partial or total replacement of finisher diet soybean oil with black soldier fly (Hermethia illucens L.; HI) larva fat on the growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters, intestinal morphology and histological features of broiler chickens. At 21 days of age, a total of 120 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to three experimental groups (five replicates and eight birds/pen). To a basal control diet (C; 68.7 g/kg as fed of soybean oil), either 50% or 100% of the soybean oil was replaced with HI larva fat (HI50 and HI100 group, respectively). Growth performance was evaluated throughout the trial. At day 48, 15 birds (three birds/pen) per group were slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. Carcass yield and proportions of carcass elements were recorded. Blood samples were taken from each slaughtered chicken for haematochemical index determination. Morphometric analyses were performed on the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Samples of liver, spleen, thymus, bursa of fabricius, kidney and heart were submitted to histological investigations. Growth performance, carcass traits, haematochemical parameters and gut morphometric indexes were not influenced by the dietary inclusion of HI larva fat. Histopathological alterations developed in the spleen, thymus, bursa of fabricius and liver and were identified in all of the experimental groups, but HI larva fat inclusion did not significantly affect (P>0.05) the severity of the histopathological findings. The present study suggests that 50% or 100% replacement of soybean oil with HI larva fat in broiler chickens diets has no adverse effects on growth performance or blood parameters and had no beneficial effect on gut health.

The black soldier fly (BSF) rearing technology has been a promising bioconversion method for food waste (FW) disposal. However, when used independently, it currently only achieves low efficiency and biomass transformation rates (BTR). This study screened and identified two strains of gut beneficial bacteria, Bacillus cereus and Bacterium YC-LK-LKJ45. The efficiency of a complex culture formulated by these strains was investigated, focusing on enhancing FW reduction and high-value biomass production during the rearing of BSF larvae. The coculture agent group (G1-10%, with two strains in 1:1 volume ratio at a 10 % dosage) exhibited higher larval yield (627.67 g·kg -1 ), BTR (47.90 %), FW reduction efficiency (80.67 %), and total protein and fat yield (261.99 g·kg -1 and 46.24 g·kg -1 ) compared to the control and the monoculture agent group (which added a single gut beneficial bacteria agent, either Bacillus cereus or Bacterium YC-LK-LKJ45). The bacterial agent altered the richness and diversity of the gut microbial community of BSF, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bacillus, Oceano bacillus, and Akkermansia, while decreasing pathogenic bacteria, such as Acinetobacter and Escherichia-Shigella. Structural equation model quantification revealed that α-diversity (λ = 0.897, p < 0.001) and BTR (λ = 0.747, p < 0.001) are crucial drivers for enhancing high-value biomass during bioaugmentation rearing. This investigation provides a theoretical framework for the effective management of food waste using BSF, enhancing its decomposition and transformation into higher-value biomass., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Use of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to process large volumes of organic waste is an emerging industry to produce protein. A co-product of this industry, the larval faeces (frass), has potential to be used as an organic fertiliser in a circular economy. However, BSFL frass has a high ammonium (N-NH 4 + ) content which could result in nitrogen (N) loss following its application to land. One solution is to process the frass by combining it with solid fatty acids (FA) that have previously been used to manufacture slow-release inorganic fertilisers. We investigated the slow-releasing effect of N after combining BSFL frass with three FAs - lauric, myristic and stearic acid. Soil was amended with the three forms of FA processed (FA-P) frass, unprocessed frass or a control and incubated for 28 days. The impact of treatments on soil properties and soil bacterial communities were characterised during the incubation. Lower N-NH 4 + concentrations occurred in soil treated with FA-P frass compared to unprocessed frass, and N-NH 4 + release was slowest for lauric acid processed frass. Initially, all frass treatments caused a large shift in the soil bacterial community towards a dominance of fast-growing r-strategists that were correlated with increased organic carbon levels. FA-P frass appeared to enhance the immobilisation of N-NH 4 + (from frass) by diverting it into microbial biomass. Unprocessed and stearic acid processed frass became enriched by slow-growing K-strategist bacteria at the latter stages of the incubation. Consequently, when frass was combined with FAs, FA chain length played an important role in regulating the composition of r-/K- strategists in soil and N and carbon cycling. Modifying frass with FAs could be developed into a slow release fertiliser leading to reduced soil N loss, improved fertiliser use efficiency, increased profitability and lower production costs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Sasha N. Jenkins reports financial support was provided by Australian Pork Ltd. Sasha N. Jenkins reports financial support was provided by Future Green Solutions. Sasha N. Jenkins reports financial support was provided by Australian Eggs Ltd. Sasha N. Jenkins reports financial support was provided by Australian Meat Processor Corporation. Sasha N. Jenkins reports financial support was provided by Dairy Australia., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Bioconversion of food waste (FW) by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) has great potential in generating high-quality organic fertilizers (insect frass). However, the stabilization of BSFL frass and its fertilizing effect on crops remain largely unexplored. Here, a full recycling chain mediated by BSFL from FW source to end application was systematically evaluated. BSFL were reared on FW containing 0 %-6 % of rice straw. Straw addition alleviated the high salinity of BSFL frass (Na decreased from 5.9 % to 3.3 %). Specifically, 4 % straw addition significantly enhanced larval biomass and conversion rates, producing fresh frass with a higher humification degree. Lactobacillus (57.0 %-79.9 %) strongly prevailed in almost all fresh frass. A 32-day secondary composting process continued to increase the humification degree of 4 % straw-added frass. Major indicators e.g., pH, organic matter (OM), NPK of final compost basically met the organic fertilizer standard. Application of composted frass fertilizers (0 %-6 %) substantially improved soil OM, nutrients availability and enzyme activities. Moreover, 2 % frass application had optimal enhancing impacts on the height and weight, root activity, total phosphorus and net photosynthetic rate of maize seedling. These findings gave an insight into the BSFL-mediated FW conversion process and proposed the rational application of BSFL frass fertilizer in maize., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Xiaoyan XU reports financial support was provided by National Key Research and Development Program of China. Nan WU reports financial support was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China. Xiaoyan XU reports financial support was provided by Tianjin modern agricultural technology system innovation., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)