Morphometric traits of Black Soldier Fly larvae in slaughterhouse waste and rice bran growing medium

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of utilizing a mixture of slaughterhouse waste and rice bran as a growing medium on the morphometric traits of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae. The research followed a completely randomized design with five treatment groups, namely T0: 100% slaughterhouse waste (control), T1: 75% slaughterhouse waste + 25% rice bran, T2: 50% slaughterhouse waste + 50% rice bran, T3: 25% slaughterhouse waste + 75% rice bran, and T4: 100% rice bran. The morphometric traits examined in this study included the larvae body length at 19 days (LBL19), larvae body width at 19 days (LBW19), larvae body length at 29 days (LBL29), and larvae body width at 29 days (LBW29). The results demonstrated that using slaughterhouse waste as the sole medium (T0) could support the growth of BSF larvae, but the morphometric traits of larvae in T0 were relatively modest. Interestingly, when RB was used to replace SW partially, it had a dose-dependent effect. T1 significantly improved (P < 0.05) LBL19, LBL29, and LBW29. Conversely, the morphometric traits of BSF larvae in T2 and T3 did not exhibit significant changes (P > 0.05) compared to the control. Moreover, the use of T4 significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) all morphometric traits of BSF larvae (LBL19, LBW19, LBL29, and LBW29). In conclusion, this study reveals the significant potential of BSF in managing slaughterhouse waste. Furthermore, employing a growing medium consisting of 75% slaughterhouse waste and 25% rice bran emerges as a practical approach to strike a harmonious balance between effective waste management and fostering the development of BSF larvae.