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10.3390/foods15020393
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Article

Growth Performances and Nutritional Values of Tenebrio molitor Larvae: Influence of Different Agro-Industrial By-Product Diets

by
Giuseppe Serra
1,
Francesco Corrias
2,*,
Mattia Casula
2,*,
Maria Leonarda Fadda
1,
Stefano Arrizza
1,
Massimo Milia
2,
Nicola Arru
2 and
Alberto Angioni
2
1
Institute of BioEconomy, National Research Council, Trav. La Crucca, 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy
2
Food Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University of Cagliari, University Campus of Monserrato, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Foods 2026, 15(2), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15020393
Submission received: 5 January 2026 / Revised: 19 January 2026 / Accepted: 20 January 2026 / Published: 22 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
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Abstract

Intensive livestock and aquaculture systems require high-quality feeds with the correct nutritional composition. The decrease in wild fish proteins has led to demands within the feed supply chain for new alternatives to fulfil the growing demand for protein. In this context, edible insects like the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) have the greatest potential to become a valid alternative source of proteins. This study evaluated the growth performance and nutritional profile of yellow mealworm larvae reared under laboratory conditions on eight different agro-industrial by-products: wheat middling, durum wheat bran, rice bran, hemp cake, thistle cake, dried brewer’s spent grains, dried tomato pomace, and dried distilled grape marc. The quantitative and qualitative impacts of rearing substrates on larvae were compared. The results showed that larvae adapt well to different substrates with different nutritional compositions, including the fibrous fraction. However, substrates affect larval growth feed conversion and larval macro composition. Hemp cake stood out for its superior nutritional value, as reflected by its high protein content and moderate NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) levels, which determine fast larval growth. On the contrary, imbalanced substrate lipid or carbohydrate content (rice bran), as well as the presence of potential antinutritional compounds (thistle cake), appeared to negatively affect growth performances.
Keywords: yellow mealworm; feed macro-composition; insect macro-composition; larval growth; feed conversion indices yellow mealworm; feed macro-composition; insect macro-composition; larval growth; feed conversion indices
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MDPI and ACS Style

Serra, G.; Corrias, F.; Casula, M.; Fadda, M.L.; Arrizza, S.; Milia, M.; Arru, N.; Angioni, A. Growth Performances and Nutritional Values of Tenebrio molitor Larvae: Influence of Different Agro-Industrial By-Product Diets. Foods 2026, 15, 393. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15020393

AMA Style

Serra G, Corrias F, Casula M, Fadda ML, Arrizza S, Milia M, Arru N, Angioni A. Growth Performances and Nutritional Values of Tenebrio molitor Larvae: Influence of Different Agro-Industrial By-Product Diets. Foods. 2026; 15(2):393. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15020393

Chicago/Turabian Style

Serra, Giuseppe, Francesco Corrias, Mattia Casula, Maria Leonarda Fadda, Stefano Arrizza, Massimo Milia, Nicola Arru, and Alberto Angioni. 2026. "Growth Performances and Nutritional Values of Tenebrio molitor Larvae: Influence of Different Agro-Industrial By-Product Diets" Foods 15, no. 2: 393. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15020393

APA Style

Serra, G., Corrias, F., Casula, M., Fadda, M. L., Arrizza, S., Milia, M., Arru, N., & Angioni, A. (2026). Growth Performances and Nutritional Values of Tenebrio molitor Larvae: Influence of Different Agro-Industrial By-Product Diets. Foods, 15(2), 393. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15020393

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