Rearing performance of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) on municipal biowaste in the outdoor ambient weather conditions of Pakistan and Indonesia

Abstract

The availability and continuous supply of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is crucial for efficient operation of a BSF biowaste recycling facility. Its rearing performance was for the first time investigated in Pakistan under outdoor ambient weather conditions. Comparison of the findings with the BSF rearing performance of Indonesia’s facility highlights the life stages needing special attention. In Pakistan, mean BSF emergence, hatching and survival rate of 58.8% (SD 15.2), 44.5% (SD 21.8) and 91.4% (SD 1.68) were achieved respectively. A positive significant correlation was found between the number of emerged flies and prepupae ( R = 0.75) and the number of eggs produced and hatched ( R = 0.92). On average, BSF took 49.5 days (SD 3.20) to complete one life cycle (LC) under ambient temperature and relative humidity (RH) between (22–35 °C) and (24.7–89.3%) respectively. The mean duration of eclosion, pre-oviposition, egg hatching, larval feeding and pupation was 15.6 days (SD 1.6), 3.5 days (SD 0.5), 3 days (SD 0.6), 22 days (SD 2.5), 3.8 days (SD 1.2) respectively. In Pakistan, the LC duration was longer with a smaller number of eggs/fly, lower BSF emergence and hatching rates as compared to Indonesia. BSF tolerated the semiarid weather conditions of Pakistan, successfully developed into all instars and completed all LCs under observation. It is suggested to provide controlled environmental conditions at the nursery stage to improve BSFL rearing performance for sustainable biowaste management.