A Review of the Scientific Literature for Optimal Conditions for Mass Rearing<i>Tenebrio molitor</i>(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Ribeiro, Nuno; Abelho, Manuela; Costa, Rui

doi:10.18474/jes17-67.1

Cited by 68 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…For instance, significant differences were reported in the feed conversion efficiency, survival and developmental time of T. molitor larvae that were fed four diets composed of various food byproducts 35 . A detailed review of the diets and protein sources that have been evaluated to date for the rearing of T. molitor was recently published 36 . Our results build on previous studies showing that feed composition has a major impact on T. molitor growth performance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of various commodities for the development of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor

Rumbos

Karapanagiotidis

Mente

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

111

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evaluation of various commodities for the development of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor christos i. Rumbos 1,2 , ioannis t. Karapanagiotidis 2 , eleni Mente 2 , pier psofakis 2 & christos G. Athanassiou 1* We evaluated the suitability of forty-four commodities (i.e., cereal flours and meals, non-flour, cereal commodities, legumes and various commodities of vegetative and animal origin) as oviposition and feeding substrates for the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor. Τen T. molitor adults were introduced in plastic vials containing 30 g of each commodity. At the end of the 1 week period, all adults were removed, and mortality was determined; then the vials were further incubated for additional 9 weeks. After this time, the vials were opened, and the larvae of each vial were separated from the feeding substrate, counted and weighed as a group. The efficiency of ingested food conversion was calculated for each substrate. finally, proximate composition was calculated to determine the nutrient components of the feeding substrates tested and the T. molitor larvae that fed on various selected substrates. in general, adult reproduction was clearly favoured by most amylaceous substrates tested, which was in contrast to the tested legumes on which fewer offspring were produced. Similar effects were observed for larval development. feeding on selected substrates exerted an impact on the nutrient composition of T. molitor larvae, with a high protein content of the substrate usually resulting in a high protein content of the larvae. Over the last few years, "insect farming" has attracted considerable scientific attention, as insects are considered an alternative and sustainable nutrient source for animal feed and human food 1-5. Among the most promising insect species for industrial utilization and commercial large-scale production is the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). This species is one of the largest stored-product beetles (adult body length between 12 and 20 mm) that is commonly found infesting stored agricultural products 6. It is a cosmopolitan stored product insect pest that is found in various types of facilities and commodities, mainly grains and related amylaceous commodities, such as flour, bran and pasta 6. Nevertheless, there is strong interest in its utilization as a food source for humans and animals, including fish 1. This is because T. molitor larvae are highly nutritious with high protein and lipid contents 7,8. Because of their nutritional value, the larvae of T. molitor are commonly used as feed for pets (e.g., reptiles and birds) 9 , whereas they have been successfully evaluated as a feed ingredient in pig 10 and poultry diets 11,12 , as well as in artificial diets for the mass-rearing of beneficial organisms, such as the predatory lady beetle, Coleomegilla maculata De Geer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) 13. Recently, T. molitor was included in the list of insect species that are allowed to be used as ingredients in fish feeds in the EU 14 , whereas its exploitation f...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of various commodities for the development of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor

Rumbos

Karapanagiotidis

Mente

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

111

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“…In addition, the larvae of T. molitor were able to complete their preimaginal development when they were fed with the two mixtures of selected byproducts offered. According to the review conducted by Ribeiro et al (2018) , larvae developmental time can be very variable in this species, being on average between 112 and 203 d under controlled conditions, and the species can have between 11 and 19 instars depending on environmental conditions and food sources. For both byproduct-based diets selected in the present study to produce larval biomass, larval development time was fast, being 16 wk (112 d) (feed mill byproducts, FM) or even faster 11 wk (77 d) (Mixture Tm 1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tenebrio molitor was purchased at Reptimercado (Purias, Murcia, Spain) and Hermetia illucens at Entosur (San Isidro de Níjar, Almeria, Spain). They were reared on the following standard diets: E. kuehniella on whole wheat flour and yeast (2:1) ( Jacob and Cox 1977 ), T. molitor on whole flour wheat, wheat bran, and pet food (Ultima dog food with chicken, Affinity Petcare) (3.3:2.5:1) ( Ribeiro et al 2018 ), and H. illucens on wheat bran, rabbit feed (Cryspy Muesli, Versele-Laga), yeast, and water (10:6:1:24) ( Nakamura et al 2016 ) ( Table 1 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and Biomass Composition of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Reared on Different Byproducts of the Agri-Food Industry

Riudavets¹,

Castañé²,

Agustí³

et al. 2020

Journal of Insect Science

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The aim of this study was to evaluate five agro-industrial byproducts (apricots, brewer’s spent grains, brewer’s spent yeast, feed mill byproducts including broken cereal grains, and hatchery waste including eggshell debris, fluff, infertile eggs, dead embryos, and egg fluids) or mixtures thereof as food diets of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller), Tenebrio molitor (L.), and Hermetia illucens (L.). Eleven out of 26 tested combinations allowed the first instar larvae to reach the adult stage. Results showed that bioconversion parameters and biomass composition can vary depending on the diet composition, especially in the case of E. kuehniella and H. illucens, whose nutritional requirements seem more complex than those of T. molitor. Tenebrio molitor was able to develop in almost all byproducts. However, only when T. molitor was fed with suitable mixtures of byproducts the development parameters were similar to those obtained with the standard diet. The best results in terms of bioconversion parameters were obtained by feeding H. illucens with a diet including dried brewer’s spent grain, feed mill byproducts and brewer’s spent yeast. The larvae of these three species can be considered interesting from a nutritional point of view, because of their high protein and fat content. However, the fatty acids profile of H. illucens larvae, with high proportions of saturated fatty acids, seems less healthy for human consumption compared with those of E. kuehniella and T. molitor.

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“…Among the most common mass-reared insect species, the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) ( Tomberlin and Van Huis 2020 ), T. molitor ( Ribeiro et al 2018 ), and the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) ( Rumbos et al 2019 ), have attracted most of the scientific and commercial interest. However, the list of insects which have shown potential for exploitation as a nutrient source and merit further investigation is extensive.…”

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confidence: 99%

The Superworm, Zophobas morio (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae): A ‘Sleeping Giant’ in Nutrient Sources

Rumbos

Athanassiou

2021

Journal of Insect Science

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The aim of this review is to compile up-to-date information on the superworm, Zophobas morio (F.), regarding its biology and ecology, but also its further potential for use as a nutrient source for food and feed. We illustrate certain basic characteristics of the morphology and bio-ecology of this species, which is marginally considered as a ‘pest’ in durable amylaceous commodities. More recent data show that Z. morio can be a valuable nutrient and antimicrobial source that could be utilized further in insect-based feed and food production. The inclusion of this species in aquafeed has provided promising results in a wide range of feeding trials, both in terms of fish development and health. Additional data illustrate its potential for use in poultry, indicating that this species provides comparable results with those of other insect species that are used in feed. Moreover, Z. morio can be a viable waste management agent. This review aims to summarize the available data and underline data gaps for future research, toward the potential of the utilization of Z. morio for human food and animal feed. Based on the data presented, Z. morio appears to be a well-promising insect-based protein source, which potential still remains to be unfold.

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A Review of the Scientific Literature for Optimal Conditions for Mass RearingTenebrio molitor(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Cited by 68 publications

References 91 publications

Evaluation of various commodities for the development of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor

Evaluation of various commodities for the development of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor

Development and Biomass Composition of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Reared on Different Byproducts of the Agri-Food Industry

The Superworm, Zophobas morio (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae): A ‘Sleeping Giant’ in Nutrient Sources

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