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. 2020 Apr 24;15(4):e0232144.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232144. eCollection 2020.

Optimization of Hermetia illucens (L.) egg laying under different nutrition and light conditions

Laura I Macavei  1 , Giacomo Benassi  1 , Vlad Stoian  2 , Lara Maistrello  1
Affiliations

Optimization of Hermetia illucens (L.) egg laying under different nutrition and light conditions

Laura I Macavei et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The black soldier fly Hermetia illucens is gaining growing interest as a tool for the valorisation of bio-waste in a circular economy perspective. Although a wide variety of studies are available for larvae rearing, the indoor breeding of adults still presents a great challenge for industrial purposes. This study was designed to assess the simultaneous influence of 3 different light sources (the Mix of LED UV:blue:green 1:1:3, White LED, Neon light) and 3 types of nutrition (sugar and water, only water, no sugar no water) on adult performances, obtaining different egg production parameters that included the number and weight of the egg masses and single eggs laid by the females, the duration of pre-oviposition and oviposition period, the adult life span, the hatchability of the eggs. Our results showed that production parameters are influenced mainly by nutrition rather than light factor, although light plays an important secondary role. Moreover, the presence of sugar positively affects the egg production (12,93-27,10 mg eggs/female) and increases oviposition period (18,2-31,8 days) and adult lifespan (20,79-27,11 days). Light sources also affect egg production parameters, with the exposure to the Mix of LEDs resulting in the best performance of flies. Results obtained from this study are very useful for the design and management of an efficient industrial black soldier fly mass rearing process.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Description of light sources.
Position of light sources (above); Spectra of light sources (below).
Fig 2
Fig 2. PCA on complete reaction of adults to experimental factors, with separation caused by nutrition.
Fig 3
Fig 3. PCA on complete reaction of adults to experimental factors, with separation caused by gender.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Trade-off between the life span of adults (females and males) and the overall egg amount of eggs produced, under nutrition factor.
The lines represent the OEA (mg) produced per treatment and the life span of flies (days) are represented by dots.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Trade-off between the life span of adults (females and males) and the overall egg amount of eggs produced, under light factor.
The lines represent the OEA (mg) produced per treatment and the life span of flies (days) are represented by dots.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Overall egg amount (g) obtained during the oviposition period (Mean ±SE).
Different letters indicate significant differences between treatments (p < 0.05).
Fig 7
Fig 7. Number of egg masses obtained during the oviposition period (Mean ±SE).
Different letters indicate significant differences between treatments (p < 0.05).
Fig 8
Fig 8. Patterns of oviposition and survival curves of BSF adults observed in the different light and diet treatments.
Fig 9
Fig 9. Overall amount of eggs (g) per LUX obtained during the experimental period (Mean ± STDEV).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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