The Intestinal Bacterial Community in the Food Waste-Reducing Larvae of Hermetia illucens

Abstract

As it is known that food waste can be reduced by the larvae of Hermetia illucens (Black soldier fly, BSF), the scientific and commercial value of BSF larvae has increased recently. We hypothesised that the ability of catabolic degradation by BSF larvae might be due to intestinal microorganisms. Herein, we analysed the bacterial communities in the gut of BSF larvae by pyrosequencing of extracting intestinal metagenomic DNA from larvae that had been fed three different diets. The 16S rRNA sequencing results produced 9737, 9723 and 5985 PCR products from larval samples fed food waste, cooked rice and calf forage, respectively. A BLAST search using the EzTaxon program showed that the bacterial community in the gut of larvae fed three different diets was mainly composed of the four phyla with dissimilar proportions. Although the composition of the bacterial communities depended on the different nutrient sources, the identified bacterial strains in the gut of BSF larvae represented unique bacterial species that were unlike the intestinal microflora of other insects. Thus, our study analysed the structure of the bacterial communities in the gut of BSF larvae after three different feedings and assessed the application of particular bacteria for the efficient degradation of organic compounds.

Voracious larvae Hermetia illucens and treatment of selected types of biodegradable waste

“…Jeon et al (2011) reported that a signifi cant factor is amount and composition of bacteria in the digestive tract of the larvae HI. Yu et al (2011) have even proven impact on growth and development of larvae HI a er inoculating poultry manure with bacteria from HI larvae.…”

“…It is known that Hermetia illucens larvae are used for reducing weight of food waste (Zheng et al, 2012;Jeon et al, 2011) and for reducing weight of manure Yu et al, 2011;Myers et al, 2008;Newton et al, 2005). For very favourable results, the usage of HI for the treatment of biowaste is discussed not only in states, where the incidence of HI is natural (Diener et al, 2009) but also in states where you will need to use controlled breeding (Holmes et al, 2012), as in the case of Czech Republic.…”

Identification and Physiological Characters of Intestinal Bacteria of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens

“…아메리카동애등에의 장내 미생물을 메타게놈 방식으로 분석한 결과 6개 문의 세균류가 검출되었다 (Jeon et al, 2011). 일반적 으로 이러한 장내 미생물은 소화, 발육 및 면역에 중요한 역할 을 담당할 뿐만 아니라 병원 미생물의 정착을 억제하는 데 요구 된다 (Qin et al, 2010;Roh et al, 2008;Yu et al, 2008).…”

“…일반적 으로 이러한 장내 미생물은 소화, 발육 및 면역에 중요한 역할 을 담당할 뿐만 아니라 병원 미생물의 정착을 억제하는 데 요구 된다 (Qin et al, 2010;Roh et al, 2008;Yu et al, 2008). (Jeon et al, 2011;Zheng et al, 2013).…”

Paenalcaligenes hermetiae sp. nov., isolated from the larval gut of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), and emended description of the genus Paenalcaligenes

“…BSF larvae are known to dramatically reduce food waste and to convert the nutrients from food waste and manure into insect larval biomass (Kim et al, 2008;Diener et al, 2009). Thus, the BSF larva itself is a potential high protein and high energy feed as well as a resource for isolation of novel species of bacteria, archaea, yeasts and protists from insect guts of adults and larvae (Breznak, 1982;Brauman et al, 2001;Hongoh et al, 2003;Schmitt-Wagner et al, 2003;Ohkuma, 2008;Kudo, 2009;Jeon et al, 2011;Kim et al, 2013). …”