DESENVOLVIMENTO LARVAL DE HERMETIA ILLUCENS ALIMENTADA COM SUBPRODUTOS AGROINDUSTRIAIS

Abstract

The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has emerged as a sustainable alternative for the valorization of agro-industrial by-products due to its ability to convert organic matter into biomass rich in proteins and lipids. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of different agro industrial by-products as substrates for the larval development of H. illucens, considering their physicochemical composition, larval growth, survival, and biomass production. Three treatments were evaluated: barley (Ce), rice bran (Fa), and a mixture of barley and rice bran (Ce+Fa). The substrates were characterized for moisture, ash, lipid, and protein contents. Larval performance was evaluated based on development time, morphometry, survival, mass gain, and biomass production. The results demonstrated that substrate composition influenced larval development. Larvae reared on Ce+Fa and Fa reached the prepupal stage after 15 days, whereas those fed Ce required 21 days. In the morphometric evaluation, Ce+Fa resulted in a length, width, and thickness of 19.22 ± 0.78 mm, 5.28 ± 0.27 mm, and 2.90 ± 0.30 mm, respectively, while Fa resulted in 18.78 ± 1.26 mm, 4.90 ± 0.28 mm, and 2.65 ± 0.16 mm, with no significant difference between these treatments. Larvae reared on Ce showed smaller dimensions, with a length of 12.15 ± 0.69 mm, width of 3.17 ± 0.25 mm, and thickness of 2.34 ± 0.15 mm (p < 0.05). Larval survival did not differ significantly among treatments. Biomass production was 47.90 g for Ce+Fa, 27.70 g for Fa, and 15.10 g for Ce, indicating higher biomass production in the Ce+Fa treatment. Overall, the combination of barley and rice bran was the most promising substrate for H. illucens biomass production under the evaluated conditions, demonstrating potential for the valorization of agro-industrial by-products and contributing to more sustainable alternatives within the context of the circular bioeconomy.