Effects of Food Waste Feed Moisture Content and Rearing Density on Larval Weight in Rearing Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)
2024
Lee, J.S. | Park, Y.U. | Kim, S.K. | Kyung, Y.J. | Ahn, H.M. | Song, M.K. | Park, K.W.
Black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) can effectively decompose organic waste resources and serve as feed for various purposes, such as pets, fish farming, and poultry. Mass rearing is essential for industrial applications; however, research on mass rearing is lacking. Therefore, this study investigated the optimal moisture content and rearing density of feeders for the mass rearing of black soldier flies. After adjusting the moisture content of 500 g of wet feed to 30, 50, 70, and 90%, 3,500 third-instar larvae were treated for seven days. The average weight of the larvae was found to be 7.19 g at 90% moisture content, whereas the highest was 10.54 g at 70% moisture content. Growth tended to be low at 50% and 30% moisture content. Additionally, to investigate the appropriate rearing density for mass rearing, 100,000, 150,000, 200,000, and 250,000 third-instar larvae were treated with 100 kg of wet food for seven days. As a result, the total larval production was found to be 22.79 kg at a density of 250,000, but there was no significant difference between densities of 150,000, 200,000, and 250,000. In examining the average weight per 100 larvae produced, the results were: 16.90 g for 100,000 larvae, 15.20 g for 150,000 larvae, 11.30 g for 200,000 larvae, and 9.50 g for 250,000 larvae. No significant differences were observed between larvae densities of 100,000 and 150,000. In conclusion, it is appropriate to use 150,000 black soldier fly larvae per 100 kg of wet feed with 70% moisture content.
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