The Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) is emerging as a sustainable protein source for fish feed production, providing potential for enhanced fish yields and increased profitability. This study investigated the influence of wheat offal, rice bran, and other organic substrates on the fatty acid and mineral profiles of BSFL (Hermetia illucens). BSFL was raised under controlled conditions for two weeks, with careful monitoring of egg development. The larvae were analyzed for their fatty acid and mineral content using gas chromatography and laboratory analysis, respectively.
This study reveals that substrates significantly influenced the nutritional content of BSFL, particularly their fatty acid and mineral profiles. Wheat offal-reared larvae exhibited higher levels of both fatty acids and minerals compared to those reared on rice bran. Notably, lauric acid was the most abundant fatty acid, while iron and zinc were predominant minerals across all substrates (Table 1). The mineral analysis revealed that larvae cultured on wheat offal had higher macro-nutrient levels, with calcium and sodium ranging from 0.25±0.01% to 0.55±0.03%, compared to lower values for rice bran substrate. Micro-nutrient levels, particularly Fe and Zn, were consistently high across all substrates, with notable differences in Cu and Fe concentrations between wheat offal and rice bran substrates (Table 2).
These findings highlight the potential of tailoring BSFL nutrient composition through substrate selection. Further research is needed to optimize substrate usage for producing BSFL with specific nutritional profiles for aquaculture applications.