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Cited by 3Insect Utilization and EffectsInsect symbiosis and bacterial influencesForensic Entomology and Diptera Studies

Stage-Specific Microbiota Transitions Throughout Black Soldier Fly Ontogeny

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Klammsteiner, Thomas, Heussler, Carina D., Stonig, Katharina T., Insam, Heribert, Schlick-Steiner, Birgit C., Steiner, Florian M.·2026·Microbial Ecology
DOI 10.1007/s00248-025-02691-1PMC PMC12860825
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Abstract

The growing global population increases the demand for protein, while organic waste management has become more challenging. Alternative protein sources are essential to mitigate the environmental impact of food production. The black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens ) has emerged as an alternative to traditional protein sources (e.g., soybean meal, fishmeal) due to its ability to convert diverse organic waste, addressing both issues simultaneously. This makes the BSF a promising candidate for industrial rearing, with its successful development closely tied to microbial influences on growth and behaviour, particularly bacterial influences on oviposition. In this study, we focus on the microbiota throughout insect development with a special focus on egg surface microbiota and their origin. We analysed the microbiota in the haemolymph and gut of larvae raised on sterilized and non-sterilized feed, pupal cell pulp, the wash of the ovipositor, eggs directly collected after oviposition, ovarian eggs, the empty female abdomen, eggs exposed to adult BSF, and surface-sterilized eggs. Our analysis revealed distinct bacterial community profiles across life stages, indicating a transition from larval dominance of Enterobacteriaceae to Burkholderiaceae on all analysed eggs. At the genus level, larval stages were characterized by Morganella , Escherichia , and Proteus , transitioning to less diverse communities in egg samples predominated by Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia . Our study reveals that while predominant microbiota persist throughout all life stages, microbial community composition transforms progressively during maturation, particularly before oviposition. Understanding egg surface microbiota and the cues guiding oviposition has the potential to boost egg production and simplify mass harvesting of BSF larvae.

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Authors
Klammsteiner, T., Heussler, C. D., Stonig, K. T., Insam, H., Schlick-Steiner, B. C., & Steiner, F. M.
Affiliations
Universität Innsbruck (AT)
Corresponding author
Klammsteiner, Thomas
ORCID
Venue
Microbial Ecology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2026-01-10
Volume
89
Issue
1
Pages
41-41
ISSN
  • 0095-3628 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-184X
DOI
10.1007/s00248-025-02691-1
PMC
PMC12860825
OpenAlex
W7119960400
Cited by
3
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 3
FWCI
13.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Microbial Ecology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Innsbruck and Medical University of Innsbruck
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect Utilization and Effects
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
Keywords
Hermetia illucens, insect microbiota, ontogeny, gut microbiota, Enterobacteriaceae, Burkholderiaceae, Morganella, Escherichia, Proteus, Burkholderia, Caballeronia, Paraburkholderia, alternative protein sources, organic waste management
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Bacteria, Diptera, Female, Hemolymph, Larva, Oviposition, Ovum, Pupa, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Simuliidae, Microbiota

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