Hermetia illucens L. (the black soldier fly) has received increased attention because of its great potential in converting organic waste into a renewable resource. The prepupae have high proportions of proteins and fats and can serve as feedstuff for livestock and as feedstock for biodiesel production. With the goal to upgrade the conversion of low-value organic wastes into high-value proteins and fat on a large scale, the effects of the feedstuffs food waste, pig manure, chicken manure, and cow dung on the reproductive potential and nutrient composition of H. illucens were evaluated. The intrinsic rate of increase of H. illucens fed food waste (0.1249 d−1) was significantly greater than the rate of those fed pig manure (0.1167 d−1), chicken manure (0.1154 d−1), and cow dung (0.1049 d−1). The ash content of H. illucens fed food waste (30.8 g·kg−1 lyophilized prepupa matter (LPM)) was significantly lower than that of those fed chicken manure (37.6 g·kg−1 LPM) and cow dung (49.5 g·kg−1 LPM). The contents of crude fat, 372.4 g·kg−1 LPM, and protein, 436.9 g·kg−1 LPM, in prepupae fed food waste were the highest among the four treatments. The reproductive performance and prepupal nutrient composition indicated that food waste was the most suitable feed for H. illucens. The results from this study further demonstrate that the prepupae of H. illucens have great potential for use as a protein and fat source in animal feeds and as biodiesel material.
Aphelinus asychis, a polyphagous parasitoid, has been widely used as an efficient biological control agent against the aphid Myzus persicae. Aiming to evaluate the influence of temperature on the biological characteristics and control potential of A. asychis for M. persicae, we compared the life table parameters and control potential of A. asychis, which included the developmental time, longevity, fecundity, intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite killing rate (θ). The results showed that increasing the temperature significantly decreased the developmental time and longevity of A. asychis. The r at 24 (0.2360 d−1) and 28 °C (0.2441 d−1) were significantly greater than those at 20 (0.1848 d−1) and 32 °C (0.1676 d−1). The θ at 24 (0.4495), 28 (0.5414), and 32 °C (0.4312) were also significantly greater than that at 20 °C (0.3140). The relationship between population fitness (r and θ) and temperature followed a unary quadratic function (R2 > 0.95). The temperatures for the expected maximum intrinsic rate of increase (rmax) and the maximum finite killing rate (θmax) were 25.7 and 27.4 °C, respectively. In conclusion, A. asychis could develop and produce progenies within the temperature range of 20–32 °C, and its control efficiency for M. persicae at 24, 28, and 32 °C was greater than that at 20 °C. The most suitable temperature range for controlling M. persicae with A. asychis in the field might be between 25.7 and 27.4 °C.
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