Relative contributions of egg-associated and substrate-associated microorganisms to black soldier fly larval performance and microbiota.

ABSTRACT: Larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF) can be used to convert organic waste into insect biomass for animal feed. In this process, they interact with microorganisms originating from the substrate, the insect and the environment. The substrate is the main determinant of the larval gut microbiota composition, but inoculation of the substrate with egg-associated bacteria can improve larval performance. We aimed to quantify the relative importance of substrate-associated and egg-associated microorganisms in BSF larval performance, bacterial abundance and bacterial community composition, when larvae were fed with chicken feed or chicken manure. For this, we inactivated substrate-associated microorganisms by autoclaving, or disinfected BSF eggs. Larval survival, weight and proportion of prepupae w

SUBMITTER: Schreven SJJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8044291 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature