Oviposition site preference in Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), in Artificial Rearing System

Abstract

In natural conditions, the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), colonizes in warm temperate regions, and is active in Korea from May through October. Information on black soldier fly rearing, which is affected by seasonal factors in Korea, is limited. This species colonizes and oviposits in a wide variety of decomposing vegetable and animal matter. For mass rearing of black soldier flies, the egg deposition methods are dependent on sunlight and oviposition sites. In this study, we investigated the substrates and oviposition sites preferred by black soldier fly in artificial rearing system. Our results showed that as black soldier flies prefer mating under sunlight, they prefer ovipositing at sites where adequate sunlight and food substrate are available. Further detailed research is required to develop methods for artificially rearing black soldier fly throughout the year in Korea. IntroductionThe black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.), is distributed throughout the tropics and warm temperate regions (James, 1935;McCallan, 1974). This insect is mainly found in the vicinity of and in cattle sheds, manure sheds, living waste dump grounds, and food waste dump grounds (Kim, 1997). Larvae of black soldier fly decompose organic material efficiently, and therefore, have been used to transform organic waste matter to valuable fertilizer. Also, black Soldier fly prepupae can be used as a feed for a variety of animals, including fish (Bondari and Sheppard, 1981) and swine (Newton et al., 1977). Prepupae, when dried, have an estimated value comparable to menhaden fish meal. If used live, as a specialty feed, or marketed to exploit its other unique qualities (i.e., essential fatty acids and chitin), the value of the product might be relatively higher (Sheppard et al., 1994). Females of black soldier fly mate once with one oviposition event in their lifetime, and mated females selectively oviposit 320~620 eggs in dry crevices near a moist food source approximately 2 d after successful copulation (Tomberlin et al., 2002). Therefore, developmental studies, including mating behaviors, were conducted with a goal of maintaining a selfsustaining colony for year-round waste conversion (Booth and Sheppard 1984, Tomberlin andSheppard, 2002). The study of oviposition is essential for developing methods for effective egg collection and year-round mass maintenance of black soldier fly. 54-58 (2016) clutches deposited daily. To make this measurement, a plastic pot (25 cm in diameter × 10 cm in depth)containing 1 kg of 50% food waste and 50% calf feeds was placed in the center of the cage. Individuals oviposited in the holes (5 mm in diameter × 7 mm in depth) of two floral foam square bars (egg collecting units) that were approximately 3 cm above the moist media.The floral foam square bars were replaced daily, and oviposited eggs were removed out of the floral foams. The numbers and weights of egg clutches were recorded. The floral foams were kept under direct sunlight, and the others were placed...

Effect of Rearing Temperature on Growth and Microbiota Composition of Hermetia illucens

“…The larvae efficiently grew across a range of temperatures, although with differences in the development rate, confirming the robustness of H. illucens . In the tropics, the development of H. illucens occurs yearlong, while it is restricted to a few generations per year in warm temperate regions [ 35 ], generally requiring temperatures above 26 °C [ 36 ]. Higher temperatures promoted faster larval development and greater final biomass but also higher mortality, in agreement with previous studies [ 37 , 38 , 39 ], suggesting that the best rearing temperature is 27 °C.…”

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

“…In the tropics, BSF adults mate and lay eggs yearlong, while in warm temperate regions natural breeding is restricted to a few generations [20,21] when the temperatures are above 26˚C [22,23], as a consequence of the decrease of light duration and intensity due to seasonal variation [19,22]. Factors such as light intensity, temperature and humidity play a decisive role in mating and oviposition performances of BSF flies [22][23][24].…”

“…In the tropics, BSF adults mate and lay eggs yearlong, while in warm temperate regions natural breeding is restricted to a few generations [20,21] when the temperatures are above 26˚C [22,23], as a consequence of the decrease of light duration and intensity due to seasonal variation [19,22]. Factors such as light intensity, temperature and humidity play a decisive role in mating and oviposition performances of BSF flies [22][23][24]. BSF mating is considered to be dependent on direct sunlight [23,25]; nevertheless, positive results were obtained by using artificial lighting such as quartz-iodine [26], LED emitting light [15,16,27], fluorescent tubes [15,16], LED lamps and fluorescent tubes [27] or halogen lamps [16,27], whereas rare earth lamps [26], Pro ultralight light system [23] or Sylvania Gro Lux system [23] proved to be ineffective.…”

Optimization of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) artificial reproduction

“…In natural conditions, breeding occurs year-round in the tropics, while it is restricted to a few generations in warm temperate regions [11]. Mating behavior is driven by seasonal variation and more particularly by the days’ duration decrease and its related light intensity [12]. Male territorial behavior has been observed leading to a fight when a male congener gets close while mating effort is undertaken when a female is approaching [11].…”

“…regulated greenhouse with sunlight) [1] and artificial breeding methods (i.e. regulated room with artificial light) [16] were developed and optimized [8,10–12,14,17–19]. The reproduction step is conditioned by environmental factors.…”