Use of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) for protein production from organic wastes and its microbiome

Larvae of black soldier fly are known biowaste reduction organisms. In this study, larvae were fed with three different substrates (chicken feed-control substrate, food waste and oil waste). Their growth, organic matter, development to prepupae stage, waste reduction and gut microbial community was observed. Oil waste was not suitable substrate for the larvae. On the other hand, food waste and chicken feed were appropriate substrates, which gave heavy and organic rich larvae/prepupae, stimulated larvae development to prepupae stage and reduced wastes. Gut microbiota of the larvae was not affected by substrate microbial community and by the time. Dominant phyla presented were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes.