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. 2018 May 24;13(5):e0197896.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197896. eCollection 2018.

Influence of three artificial light sources on oviposition and half-life of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae): Improving small-scale indoor rearing

Carina D Heussler  1   2 , Andreas Walter  2   3 , Hannes Oberkofler  1 , Heribert Insam  2 , Wolfgang Arthofer  1 , Birgit C Schlick-Steiner  1 , Florian M Steiner  1
Affiliations

Influence of three artificial light sources on oviposition and half-life of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae): Improving small-scale indoor rearing

Carina D Heussler et al. PLoS One. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Hermetia illucens (L.), the Black Soldier Fly, has received increased scientific attention for its potential in circular waste management where larvae can serve as feedstuff for livestock and for biodiesel production. The flies occur naturally in (sub)-tropical and warm-temperate climates, and their mating depends on space and sunlight. Small-scale indoor rearing of Black Soldier Flies has been challenging because they react sensitive to artificial light sources and cage sizes, but recent studies have shown that small-scale rearing under artificial light is feasible. Here, we test the influence of three artificial light sources (light-emitting diodes, fluorescent lamps, and halogen lamps) on small-scale indoor rearing. Three experiments were conducted to compare oviposition traits (pre-oviposition period, total oviposition-period, and egg mass per female) and half-life among the three light sources. Oviposition did not differ among the three light sources, but male and female half-life did. Based on the performance of the light-emitting diodes and their outstanding energy efficiency, we recommend this light source for small-scale indoor rearing of Black Soldier Flies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Top view of the position of the three light sources: 1) light-emitting diode (LED, green); 2) fluorescent lamp (FL, blue); and 3) halogen lamp (HL, amber); the contours of polyethylene cages are drawn in black.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Light spectra (μmol m-2 s-1) of three artificial light sources: 1) light-emitting diode (LED, green); 2) fluorescent lamp (FL, blue); and 3) halogen lamp (HL, amber) at wavelengths from 300 to 885 nm.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Accumulated egg mass per female (mg) and standard deviation for three artificial light sources: 1) light-emitting diode (LED, green); 2) fluorescent lamp (FL, blue); and 3) halogen lamp (HL, amber) during the 15 days for Experiment 1 [a], Experiment 2 [b], and Experiment 3 [c].
Fig 4
Fig 4. Male and female survival under three artificial light sources: 1) light-emitting diode (LED, green); 2) fluorescent lamp (FL, blue); and 3) halogen lamp (HL, amber) during the 15 days for Experiment 1 [a], Experiment 2 [b], and Experiment 3 [c].
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References

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