Establishment of Laboratory Colony of Black Soldier Fly (Bsf), Hermetia Illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

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.