Open AccessArticle
Growth Performance and Biochemical Composition of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) Reared on Diets Containing Similar Crude Protein Content
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Somaya Naser El Deen, Klaas van Rozen, Hellen Elissen, Piet van Wikselaar, István Fodor, Roomie van der Weide, Elise Hoek-van den Hil, Arya Rezaei Far and Teun Veldkamp
Insects 2026, 17(5), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17050504 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2026
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Abstract
For optimal growth and development, black soldier fly larvae require a balanced diet. This study focused on how nutrients other than protein, specifically fat, starch, fibre, and ash, affect larval growth, body composition, and the quality of the leftover material called frass. To
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For optimal growth and development, black soldier fly larvae require a balanced diet. This study focused on how nutrients other than protein, specifically fat, starch, fibre, and ash, affect larval growth, body composition, and the quality of the leftover material called frass. To isolate the effects of these nutrients, five types of organic byproducts: fast food (FF) waste, solid pig manure (PS), mushroom stems (MS), slaughter waste (SW) and poultry meal (PM), were used to create six different diets, all with similar protein levels (about 22% DM). The results showed that diets rich in fat and starch, such as those based on FF waste, produced the heaviest larvae (155.9 mg), which also had high fat (30.31% DM) and protein contents (52.74% DM). In contrast, diets based on PM, which were low in fat and starch but high in fibre and ash, resulted in lower larval weight, which had lower fat content but variable protein content depending on other diet ingredients. Similar dietary protein levels yielded different larval protein contents, indicating that other nutrients may have influenced how protein was stored. However, other components of the diet, especially fat and ash, were consistently reflected in both the larvae and the frass. Overall, the study shows that nutrients other than protein play important roles in larval development and should be considered when designing black soldier fly diets.
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