Research Information System
Insects to Feed the World 2024, Singapore, Singapore, 19 - 22 June 2024, vol.10, no.15, pp.20
The lesser mealworm has been authorized in the European Union as a source of food and feed protein. Yet, there are still several variables that could be optimized to increase the profitability of its mass rearing. A series of laboratory bioassays was performed to examine certain parameters that significantly affect the development of this species. We evaluated the suitability of sets of diets of 17.3, 22.5 and 27.5% protein, composed of different agricultural byproducts of the cereal and legume seed cleaning process [i.e. triticale, barley, durum wheat, oats, peas, and lupin], as feedstocks for A. diaperinus larvae. In another bioassay, agar agar, carrageenans, sodium alginate, guar or xanthan gum, pectin and carrots were evaluated as moisture sources. The optimum larval density was determined by comparing larval densities ranging from 7.5 to 53 larvae per cm2. Finally, we compared the larval growth and feed conversion rate of seven geographically diverse A. diaperinus populations (collected from poultry farms, provided by industrial producers, lab populations) when fed with flour from wheat bran, rice hulls or sunflower seeds. The agricultural by-products tested were shown to have the potential to serve as novel ingredients in insect diets to conventional feedstocks, thereby contributing to the reduction of the feed cost. The wet feeds tested may offer a more efficient means of supplying moisture to A. diaperinus compared to commonly used wet feeds. An optimal biomass efficiency can be achieved by using a larval density of 30.3 larvae per cm2. The larval growth rate of the different populations in the various substrates varied, highlighting the need for genetic selection to achieve the best production output. The research work was partially supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) under the 4th Call for HFRI PhD Fellowships (Fellowship: 11297) and by the COST Action “Improved Knowledge Transfer for Sustainable Insect Breeding (Insect-IMP), CA22140”, supported by COST.