Impact of Combinations of Diet and Larval Rearing Temperature on Duration of Larval, Pre Pupal and Pupal Stages of Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Stratiomyidae: Diptera)

As the world’s population increases day by day, the amount of organic waste generated also increases posing huge great threat to mankind and the environment. The black soldier fly is known for its capacity to convert organic wastes to nutrient rich manure and in the process the larvae accumulate proteins from the wastes. Hence, the fly finds its place as an ingredient in poultry feed, animal/pet food and fish feed. Since the fly is reared commercially, studies on rearing conditions would help scientists and the industry. The present study was carried out in the Black soldier fly breeding laboratory in Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendgranagar, Hyderabad during 2023-24 with an aim to study the impact of diet and temperatures on the developmental periods of larvae, prepupae and pupae in a two factorial completely randomized design with four diets viz., chicken feed, sesamum cake, groundnut cake and Gainsville diet at five temperatures viz.,150C, 200C, 250C, 350C and 420C. Results revealed that diet and temperature had significant impact on durations of larva, prepupa and pupa and the interactions of diet and temperature were also significant. The Gainsville diet at 200C,250C and 350C recorded least larval duration while sesamum cake at 150̊C recorded longest larval and prepupal duration. Shortest pupal period was noticed in groundnut cake at 150C and longest pupal period in sesamum cake at 250C.