Turning waste into feed: Diet composition impacts life history traits for black soldier fly larvae

The growing human population is driving the need for an increase in the amount of food produced. One consequence of increased food production is increased food waste, however, the amount of food wasted does not indicate an excess of food produced. In the United States, up to 40% of our food supply is wasted annually throughout the supply chain with an estimated cost of $218 billion USD. Although food insecurity rates are decreasing overall, the percentage of households unable to provide adequate food for one or more members in state of Texas is higher than the national average at ~13.1%. The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), has been proven as a viable method to aid in both issues stated: managing organic food waste and producing a high-quality feed. In the current study, black soldier fly larvae were fed common vegetables (e.g., carrots, onions, yellow squash) produced in Texas, USA to determine the impact on larval life history traits. These data indicate that the black soldier fly can be used to digest common products of Texas while also becoming a valuable production product.