Nutritional composition of black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) prepupae reared on different organic waste substrates
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Black soldier fly larvae are converters of organic waste into edible biomass, of which the composition may depend on the substrate. In this study, larvae were grown on four substrates: chicken feed, vegetable waste, biogas digestate, and restaurant waste. Samples of prepupae and substrates were freeze‐dried and proximate, amino acid, fatty acid and mineral analyses were performed. RESULTS: Protein content of prepupae varied between 399 and 431 g kg −1 dry matter ( DM ) among treatments. Differences in amino acid profile of prepupae were small. On the other hand, the ether extract ( EE ) and ash contents differed substantially. Prepupae reared on digestate were low in EE and high in ash (218 and 197 g kg −1 DM , respectively) compared to those reared on vegetable waste (371 and 96 g kg −1 DM , respectively), chicken feed (336 and 100 g kg −1 DM , respectively) and restaurant waste (386 and 27 g kg −1 DM , respectively). Prepupal fatty acid profiles were characterised by high levels of C12 :0 in all treatments. CONCLUSION: Since protein content and quality were high and comparable for prepupae reared on different substrates, black soldier fly could be an interesting protein source for animal feeds. However, differences in EE and ash content as a function of substrate should be considered. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
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Hydrolysis via microbial fermentation breaks down complex components of organic matter while BSFL populations in the wild decompose decaying organic matter.
“The hydrolysis process via microbial fermentation breaks down the complex components of organic matter while the BSFL populations in the wild decompose decaying organic matter [65,69].”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [69]
The first prepupae in chicken feed substrate emerged after 12 days, while in vegetable waste and biogas digestate substrates emerged after 15 days.
“The first prepupae in the chicken feed substrate emerged after 12 days, while the first prepupae in vegetable waste and biogas digestate substrates emerged after 15 days.”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [69]
Larvae reared on chicken feed have the highest development rate compared to vegetable waste, biogas digestate, and restaurant waste.
“Sprangers et al. [69] found that larvae reared on chicken feed have the highest development rate compared to vegetable waste, biogas digestate, and restaurant waste.”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [69]
Commercial chicken feed is a high-quality reference substrate because it is a feedstock formulated for broilers and thus has a high protein content.
“Spranghers et al. [69] has affirmed that commercial chicken feed is a high-quality reference substrate because it is a feedstock formulated for broilers and, thus, has a high protein content.”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [69]
High amount of oil or grease in restaurant waste substrate hampers BSFL development, and first prepupae emerged after 18 days.
“The high amount of oil or grease in the restaurant waste substrate hamper BSFL development, and the first prepupae emerged after 18 days.”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [69]
Among Hermetia illucens, Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas morio, and Bombyx mori, Hermetia illucens has the highest amount of lauric acid, up to 60%.
“Among these, HI has the highest amount of LA (up to 60%) (Spranghers et al., 2017)”
From Insect Derived Lauric Acid as Promising Alternative Strategy to Antibiotics in the Antimicrobial Resistance Scenario (2021) · cites this paper as Spranghers et al., 2017
Hermetia illucens oil has a very similar fatty acid profile and quality compared to coconut and palm kernel oil.
“HI oil also consists of various monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglyceride, showing a very similar fatty acid profile and quality compared to that of coconut and palm kernel oil (Ushakova et al., 2016; Muller et al., 2017; Spranghers et al., 2017).”
From Insect Derived Lauric Acid as Promising Alternative Strategy to Antibiotics in the Antimicrobial Resistance Scenario (2021) · cites this paper as Spranghers et al., 2017
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- Authors
- Spranghers, T., Ottoboni, M., Klootwijk, C., Ovyn, A., Deboosere, S., De Meulenaer, B., Michiels, J., Eeckhout, M., De Clercq, P., & De Smet, S.
- Affiliations
- Ghent University (BE)
- University of Milan (IT)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
- Trevi NV Dulle‐Grietlaan 17/1 B‐9050 Gentbrugge Belgium
- Department of Food Safety and Food Quality Ghent University Coupure links 653 B‐9000 Gent Belgium
- Department of Crop Protection Ghent University Coupure links 653 B‐9000 Gent Belgium
- Department of Animal Production Ghent University Coupure links 653 B‐9000 Gent Belgium
- Venue
- Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-11-14
- Volume
- 97
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 2594-2600
- ISSN
- 0022-5142 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0010
- OpenAlex
- W2530368439
- Cited by
- 970
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 102 · 2025: 139 · 2024: 138 · 2023: 111 · 2022: 133 · 2021: 129 · 2020: 89 · 2019: 82 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 14
- FWCI
- 46.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- research.wur.nl
- Locations
- Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
- Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- “Special Research Fund” (BOF) of Ghent University (05V00413)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect Utilization and Effects
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Keywords
- Hermetia illucens, prepupae, nutritional composition, organic waste substrates, biogas digestate, vegetable waste, restaurant waste, chicken feed, protein content, amino acid composition, fatty acid composition, crude fat, ash content, alternative protein sources, insect feed
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Feed, Chickens, Manure, Pupa, Simuliidae, Waste Products
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