Black Soldier Fly Larvae Feed with Fermented Bamboo Culms Enriched with Lactic Acid Bacteria

Abstract

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae have been a promising protein source use in fish and poultry meal effectively replacing plant-based protein source. Currently, there is no study on the effects of fermented bamboo culms by lactic acid bacteria to improve the nutrition of BSF larvae. The main objective of this study is to determine the protein:fat ratio and growth rate of BSF larvae fed with fermented bamboo culm fibres (Bambusa beecheyana) enriched with lactic acid bacteria. Lactobacillus plantarum and Brevibacillus parabrevis were successfully isolated from BSF larvae gut aged 16 days and fermentation of bamboo culms fibre were successfully carried out for 21 days. Our results showed the plot VEG217 consist of Lactobacillus plantarum and Brevibacillus parabrevis (1:1) mixed with fermented bamboo culms fibre and vegetable waste have greater average weight (111%) and length (30%) compared to negative control that only consist of BSF larvae fed with vegetable waste. Interestingly, BSF larvae fed with fermented bamboo enriched with lactic acid bacteria also pupariated in much shorter time (less than 13 days) compared to negative control (18 days). All the larvae fed with fermented bamboo and lactic acid bacteria also showed improvement in the protein and fat ratio when compared to negative control (5:3). The plot VEG111 consist of Brevibacillus parabrevis mixed with fermented bamboo and vegetable wastes have the best protein:fat ratio (4:1). This result shows the potentioal of using fermented bamboo culm fibres enriched with lactic acid bacteria to improve the growth rate of BSF larvae.