Recycling of spent mushroom substrate: Utilization as feed material for the larvae of the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Spent mushroom substrate is made from the waste remaining after the harvest of mushrooms. Here, we evaluated the potential of five spent edible fungi (Auricularia cornea, Lentinus edodes, Pleurotus eryngii, P. citrinopileatus and P. ostreatus) substrates as feed sources for Tenebrio molitor larvae. Young larvae did not survive on any substrate except the spent L. edodes substrate (36.7%). The survival rates in young larvae were similar among the different diets in which wheat bran or rice bran was replaced with 0, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60% spent L. edodes substrate. The weights of the surviving larvae were decreased only when 70% of wheat bran and > 40% of rice bran was replaced with spent L. edodes substrate. In addition, the middle-aged larvae fed wheat bran only were significantly larger than those fed diets with 30~60% spent L. edodes substrate in dry feed, but the larvae of all treatments failed to pupate. Whereas the green feed was added in dry feed, there were no significant differences in pupal weight, pupation rate, pupal duration, adult emergence, or deformed adults among the three treatments in middle-aged larvae that were fed on diets containing 0, 30, or 40% spent L. edodes substrate. Collectively, these results suggest that spent L. edodes substrate has considerable potential to be used as a partial replacement (< 40%) of conventional feed for T. molitor, and spent mushroom substrate waste may be recycled as feed material for resource insects.

Self-Selection of Feeding Substrates by Tenebrio molitor Larvae of Different Ages to Determine Optimal Macronutrient Intake and the Influence on Larval Growth and Protein Content

“…The balancing of the protein and carbohydrate content, with incomplete nutrition, was proven in locusts ( Locusta migratoria L., Orthoptera: Acrididae) [ 5 ]. Different studies have examined the use of agricultural by-products [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], fish discards [ 13 ] and organic waste [ 14 ] as insect food and the effects on larval chemical composition. Researchers concluded that it is possible to rear mealworm larvae on food by-products.…”

Self-Selection of Agricultural By-Products and Food Ingredients by Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Impact on Food Utilization and Nutrient Intake

“…One of the most important aspects of mass production involves the formulation of inexpensive yet effective diets that maximize biomass productivity over time. Recent research has focused on the potential use of agricultural by-products as insect food to reduce production costs of insect biomass [16][17][18][19]. However, current studies on T. molitor have focused on the effects of single ingredients on biological and food utilization parameters.…”

Performance of Chouioia cunea reared from a coleopteran alternative host as a biocontrol agent against the invasive lepidopteran pest, Hyphantria cunea

“…The larval developmental stages of T. molitor could vary from nine to more than 20 instars, depending on rearing conditions, 56 but most of them developed in 13–16 instars 57,58 and sold at these stages at only about $2–3 per kilogram. When the environmental cost is also taken into account, the advantages of using T. molitor are even more obvious, because A. pernyi larvae feed on the leaves of Quercus , 20 while T. molitor could even be reared on agricultural organic wastes 59 . This would not only reduce production cost but also make it available in all seasons 37 .…”