Study of the oviposition response of black soldier fly (BSF) in the presence of banana and pupal remains

Tan, Pei Chin; Sim, Siong Fong

doi:10.35495/ajab.2019.11.529

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Specific organic materials may function as attractants, wherein gravid females will lay eggs in adjacent crevices with varying intensity (Park et al, 2016;. Specific natural attractants with complex bouquets, such as manure and fruit waste, have been identified, however, their attractive compounds remain unknown (Chin Tan and Sim, 2020;Nyakeri et al, 2017). For example, Nyakeri et al (2017) found that cow manure was the most consistent stimulant, attracting the highest weight of laid eggs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A chemically defined oviposition attractant and repellent of Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens)

Thomas,

Karpati,

Schmitt

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Black Soldier Flies (BSF),Hermetia illucens, are industrially important species. They can consume large amounts of spoilt organic material as larvae and bio-convert it to more useful biomass. Female BSF lay eggs in crevices adjacent to spoilt organic materials that serve as an oviposition attractant. These kairomones are central to maximising rearing efforts, yet the composition and origin of oviposition cues remain undefined, and no synthetic oviposition attractants are currently available. This work aimed to identify key components of naturally occurring oviposition attractants and to formulate an effective synthetic alternative for BSF. We have developed a novel oviposition assay and found larval food- and frass-based attractants to be the most effective at centralizing egg laying. We have identified the volatile compounds in the headspaces of putative attractants and established that the antennae of the female flies respond to some of these compounds. Behavioural validation using synthetic compounds allowed us to generate a mixture of 5 compounds (p-cresol, decanal, sulcatone, pentanoic acid, acetophenone) that cues oviposition as efficiently as currently used natural oviposition attractants. We also identified a synthetic mixture that deters oviposition in BSF. The synthetic attractant and repellent we generated are likely to simplify BSF rearing in research and industrial settings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A chemically defined oviposition attractant and repellent of Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens)

Thomas,

Karpati,

Schmitt

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Behavioral responses of different reproductive statuses and sexes in Hermetia illucens (L) adults to different attractants

Laksanawimol,

Singsa,

Thancharoen

2023

PeerJ

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Background The odor of various fermented organic materials acts as an attractant for oviposition by gravid females of the black soldier fly (BSF) to find larval food sources. Females display oviposition site selection on various organic materials, but little work has been done on the response to substrate attractants under caged conditions similar to those in a BSF farm production system. Methods Fifty of each reproductive status (mated and virgin) and sex (males and females) of BSF adults were marked and then exposed to one of five different oviposition attractants in a transparent acrylic chamber: no substrate (control) plus pineapple, mixed vegetables, okara, and fermented fish to represent fruit-, vegetable-, plant protein-, and animal protein-based substrates, respectively. The frequency of the perching activity on the oviposition apparatus and flying behavior under the LED illumination, including the laid egg weight, were recorded. Results The sexually-related activities of BSF adults were clearly observed. A majority of the females preferred to perch on the oviposition apparatus and fly around the illuminated area compared to the very low activities of the mated males. The BSF adults displayed different behavioral responses to the different tested attractants. While active flying was common when using plant protein- and animal protein-based substrates, mated females showed the greatest perching preference for plant-based substrates (fruit and vegetables) and this correlated with the laid egg weight. Discussion Egg-laying was more likely to happen on the plant-based substrate than on the animal protein-based substrate. However, the strong smell of the animal protein-based substrate could strongly trigger lekking behavior, which is an important part of mating behavior. This knowledge can support egg trapping in nature and also improve the efficiency of egg production in mass-rearing facilities.

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Study of the oviposition response of black soldier fly (BSF) in the presence of banana and pupal remains

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

A chemically defined oviposition attractant and repellent of Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens)

A chemically defined oviposition attractant and repellent of Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens)

Behavioral responses of different reproductive statuses and sexes in Hermetia illucens (L) adults to different attractants

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