Biological Features of Tenebrio Molitor, Zophobas Morio and Hermetia Illucens Larvae as the Source of Feed Protein for Animals

Introduction. Due to the world’s population growth, the need for food products increases. The only way to solve the problem is to develop the animal husbandry, poultry and fish farming, which are currently facing the acute deficit of protein feedstuff. Due to the chemical composition, the larvae of the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) beetle, zofobas (Zophobas morio) beetle and the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) could be efficiently used in the compound feed production. Therefore, our research aims at the comparative study of the biological features of the above insects and their larvae in the context of improving the technology of the new types of feed protein production.

Materials and Methods. The research was conducted by comparing the biological features of the following insects: Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas morio and Hermetia illucens.

Results. The specific temperature conditions in the native ranges of the studied insect species were revealed. That could benefit the larvae artificial rearing technology. The aspects of the natural fodder base influence on the formation of the larvae nutrient medium upon their rearing for feed protein production were determined. The larvae growth intensity of the studied insect species was compared.

Discussion and Conclusion. The study of Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas morio and Hermetia illucens biological features brought us to the conclusion that using their larvae as feed protein in production of the compound feed is expedient. Based on the chemical composition features of the above larvae, both in their natural and protein feed flour form, they can be recommended for feeding the valuable fish species, poultry, pigs and small domestic animals.

1. Medvedev AY, Volgina NV, Tresnitskii SN. Tekhnologicheskie i biologicheskie aspekty vyrashchivaniya ryb v ustanovkakh zamknutogo vodosnabzheniya. Moscow: Morkniga Publ.; 2023. 159 p. (In Russ.).

2. Ponomarenko YA, Fisinin VI, Egorov IA. Kombikorma, korma, kormovye dobavki, biologicheski aktivnye veshchestva, ratsiony, kachestvo, bezopasnost’. Monografiya – Monograph. Minsk – Moscow: Belstan Publ.; 2020. 764 p. (In Russ.).

3. Jinsu Hong, Taehee Han, Yoo Yong Kim. Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor Larvae) as an Alternative Protein Source for Monogastric Animal. Review. Animals. 2020;10(11):2068. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112068

4. Xiao Yu, Qiang He, Dun Wang. Dynamic Analysis of Major Components in the Different Developmental Stages of Tenebrio Molitor. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2021;8:1–8. http://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.689746

5. Jajić I, Popović A, Urošević MI, Krstović S, Petrović M, Guljaš D, Samardžić M. Fatty and Amino Acid Profile of Mealworm Larvae (Tenebrio molitor). Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry. 2020;36(2):167–180 http://doi.org/10.2298/BAH2002167J

6. Rumbos СI, Athanassiou CG. The Superworm, Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): A «Sleeping Giant» in Nutrient Sources. Journal of Insect Science. 2021;21(2):1–11. http://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab014

7. Nekrasov RV, Pаshkova LА, Pravdin IV, et al. Biochemical Characteristics of Hermetia Illucens: a Base for Perspective Use of Larval Biomass in Young Pig Food. Journal of Nature Science and Sustainable Technology. 2015;9(2):287–300.

8. Kompantseva TV. Osobennosti razvedeniya chernotelok Tenebrio molitor i Zophobas morio (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) v kachestve biokorma. Invertebrates in Zoos Collections. In: Materials of the First International Workshop. Moscow. 2002. P. 90–98. (In Russ.).

9. Bastrakov AI, Ushakova NA. Svoistva lichinok mukhi Hermetia illucens pri iskusstvennom razvedenii. Eurasian Union Of Scientists. 2014;8:105–107. (In Russ.).

10. Pazmiño-Palomino А, Reyes-Puig C, Del Hierro AG. How Could Climate Change Influence the Distribution of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae)? Biodiversity Data Journal. 2022;10:1–21. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e90146

11. Antonov AM, Lutovinovas E, Ivanov GA, Pastukhova N.O. Adaptation and Prospects of Breeding Flies Black Lvink (Hermetia Illucens) in Circumpolar Region. Principles of the Ecology. 2017;3(24):4–19. (In Russ.).

12. Butovskii RO. Insects as a Food Resource in “Green” Economy. In: Works of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Environmental Protection. 2019. P. 519–534. (In Russ.).

13. Krivosheina NP. Zaitsev AI. Filogenez i ehvolyutsionnaya ehkologiya dvukrylykh nasekomykh. In: Vol. 9 Itogi nauki i tekhniki – Science and Technology Results. Entomology. Moscow: VINITI Publ.; 1989. 164 p. (In Russ.).