Foodstuff Salinity Affect the Fecundity and Prepupa Nutritional Composition of <em>Hermetia illucens</em> (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Among the various insects used in animal foodstuff, Hermetia illucens is regarded as an effective converter of organic wastes including food waste, crop straw, vinasse, rice and wheat bran, human and animal feces. Based on the tremendous potential of converting organic waste into renewable resources, such as food and feed ingredients, extensive research on H. illucens has recently been conducted. The salinity of the foodstuff is a crucial factor to consider for the larval growth and nutrient accumulation of H. illucens, as they live and feed in it. To realize the efficient reuse of food wastes, the effects of salinity (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) in food wastes on the fecundity of H. illucens were researched by way of TWO-SEX life table computer software in laboratory, and the prepupa nutrients (ash, protein, fat, and mineral composition) was also determined with the method of Soxhlet extractor, muffle furnace, and Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the intrinsic rate of increase (r) of H. illucens in control (0.1199 d-1) was greatest and significantly more than those of 3% (0.1110 d-1), 4% (0.1076 d-1) and 5% (0.0989 d-1) treatments by way of affecting the nutritional intake of H. illucens larva. The ash proportion of H. illucens prepupa in the control group was least and significantly less than those in 3%, 4%, and 5% treatments. In addition, the content of crude fat in control was greatest and significantly greater than those in 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% treatments. The content of crude protein in control was also significantly more than those in all other treatments. Furthermore, the content of some fat acids and amino acids was also significantly affected by the foodstuff salinity. Because of the better reproductive performance and more nutrient component, the feedstuff with lower salinity was more suitable to feed H. illucens larvae, which result was conducive to producing H. illucens prepupa used as animal feeds and biodiesel material in large-scale use.