Chemical composition, chitin and cell wall nitrogen content of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae after physical and biological treatment

Abstract

The use of insects as feed may provide a potential solution to overcome the increasingly limited supply of feed, especially protein sources. Black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) larvae is characterized by its easy production system, rapid growth, able to efficiently convert organic waste and contains high protein, i.e., around 40%. However, the BSF exoskeleton contains chitin which is a component of cell wall and may inhibit the process of nutrient utilization in the digestive tract of ruminants. This experiment aimed to reduce chitin in BSF through physical (separation of the exoskeleton part) and biological (fermentation with chitinolytic bacteria) treatments. There are four treatments tested in this study: BSF larvae control (T1), BSF larvae without exoskeleton (T2), fish meal (T3), fermented BSF larvae using Bacillus subtilis ATCC 19659 (T4).Physical and biological treatments were able to reduce crude fiber content from 20.27% (T1) to 4.29% (T2), 13.18% (T4), and there was a decrease in ADF content up to 21.78% (T2) and 19.69% (T4). Bacillus subtilis also had lipase enzyme activity, so it can reduce ether extract in BSF larvae by 25.83%. The value of deacetylation degree from chitin isolated without treatment (T1) had a higher value of 66.11. This shows that the fermentation process using chitinolytic bacteria is able to reduce the quality of chitin and change the characteristics of chitin. It can be concluded that physical and biological treatment of BSF prepupa larvae can reduce chitin content, which is indicated by a decrease in crude fiber and fiber fraction (NDF and ADF). Fermentation using chitinolytic bacteria can change chitin characteristics and affect chitin quality.

Characterization of chitin and chitosan derived from Hermetia illucens, a further step in a circular economy process

“…Our data regarding larvae, pupal exuviae and dead adults from the H. illucens are within these ranges. Similarities were also found in the average composition of the different developmental stages of H. illucens reported by other authors 62 – 65 , except for lipids. Indeed, our samples had a lower lipid content than those reported for the same insect biomass (3–40%, 8 and 27% for larvae, exuviae and adults, respectively) 62 , 63 .…”

In vivo and in vitro Digestibility of an Extruded Complete Dog Food Containing Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Meal as Protein Source

“…This result could be explained by differing levels of chitin, which can negatively affect protein digestibility (47). Indeed, the reported difference in fiber digestibility between the diets supports this result and explanation, since chitin gets recognized as part of the crude fiber fraction during the analysis (48). Furthermore, the mean values of crude protein ATTDC (for BSF-based diets)…”

Effects of Dietary Inclusion Level of Microwave-Dried and Press-Defatted Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Meal on Productive Performance, Cecal Volatile Fatty Acid Profile, and Egg Quality in Laying Hens

“…Hence, to be considered as a suitable protein ingredient in poultry, protein digestibility is an important factor [ 14 ]. Although insects are a natural diet of poultry and HIL, being a high protein and amino acid source, is comparable to SBM [ 3 , 31 ], the exoskeletal chitin of larvae can negatively affect the protein digestibility [ 11 , 32 ].…”