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Differences in Life History Traits and Morphology in Wild vs. Domesticated Populations of Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Received: 26 July 2022    Accepted: 12 August 2022    Published: 6 June 2023
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Abstract

The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens is widely studied as a sustainable alternative source of protein. Herein, we evaluated the changes in life history and morphometric traits between wild (WP) and domesticated populations (DP) with implications for larval biomass production. Prepupa stages of both populations were maintained under the same rearing conditions from July 2020 to June 2021. Our results show that the pupation time was longer in WP (10.25 ± 2.66 days) than in DP (7.2 ± 1.1 days). In contrast, the emergence time of BSF adults was shorter in WP (8.3 ± 2.2 days) than in DP (9.7 ± 1.8 days). The courtship was nearly similar in both populations. Mounting and reverse coupling were the two different copulation models used by BSF adults in WP while reverse coupling dominated in DP. The BSF females laid more eggs in WP (1468.75 ± 593.09 eggs) than in DP (246.21 ± 96.23 eggs). The egg stage was similar in length and width in both populations while the morphometric traits in the larval, pupal and adult stages were consistently lower in domesticated than in wild population. The life span of adults (males and females) was longer in DP than in WP. Our findings indicate higher values of morphological traits in WP than in DP, and distinct mating and reproductive behaviours between both populations. Our results suggest ‘domestication syndrome hypothesis’ as the main cause of changes in reproductive behaviour and reduction of size in DP. Therefore, wild population of H. illucens seems be more suitable for maggot mass production as an alternative source of protein for animal feed production.

Published in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13
Page(s) 71-79
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Black Soldier Fly, Wild and Domesticated Populations, Life History Traits, Maggot Production, Animal Feed

References
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Cite This Article
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    Mbenoun Masse Paul Serge, Mbansie Gbetkom Loudh, Yede, Ngo Libong Sipora Glwadys, Mamno Totuom Clarette Sidoine, et al. (2023). Differences in Life History Traits and Morphology in Wild vs. Domesticated Populations of Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 11(3), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13

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    ACS Style

    Mbenoun Masse Paul Serge; Mbansie Gbetkom Loudh; Yede; Ngo Libong Sipora Glwadys; Mamno Totuom Clarette Sidoine, et al. Differences in Life History Traits and Morphology in Wild vs. Domesticated Populations of Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Anim. Vet. Sci. 2023, 11(3), 71-79. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13

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    AMA Style

    Mbenoun Masse Paul Serge, Mbansie Gbetkom Loudh, Yede, Ngo Libong Sipora Glwadys, Mamno Totuom Clarette Sidoine, et al. Differences in Life History Traits and Morphology in Wild vs. Domesticated Populations of Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Anim Vet Sci. 2023;11(3):71-79. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13,
      author = {Mbenoun Masse Paul Serge and Mbansie Gbetkom Loudh and Yede and Ngo Libong Sipora Glwadys and Mamno Totuom Clarette Sidoine and Bilong Bilong Charles Felix},
      title = {Differences in Life History Traits and Morphology in Wild vs. Domesticated Populations of Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)},
      journal = {Animal and Veterinary Sciences},
      volume = {11},
      number = {3},
      pages = {71-79},
      doi = {10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.avs.20231103.13},
      abstract = {The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens is widely studied as a sustainable alternative source of protein. Herein, we evaluated the changes in life history and morphometric traits between wild (WP) and domesticated populations (DP) with implications for larval biomass production. Prepupa stages of both populations were maintained under the same rearing conditions from July 2020 to June 2021. Our results show that the pupation time was longer in WP (10.25 ± 2.66 days) than in DP (7.2 ± 1.1 days). In contrast, the emergence time of BSF adults was shorter in WP (8.3 ± 2.2 days) than in DP (9.7 ± 1.8 days). The courtship was nearly similar in both populations. Mounting and reverse coupling were the two different copulation models used by BSF adults in WP while reverse coupling dominated in DP. The BSF females laid more eggs in WP (1468.75 ± 593.09 eggs) than in DP (246.21 ± 96.23 eggs). The egg stage was similar in length and width in both populations while the morphometric traits in the larval, pupal and adult stages were consistently lower in domesticated than in wild population. The life span of adults (males and females) was longer in DP than in WP. Our findings indicate higher values of morphological traits in WP than in DP, and distinct mating and reproductive behaviours between both populations. Our results suggest ‘domestication syndrome hypothesis’ as the main cause of changes in reproductive behaviour and reduction of size in DP. Therefore, wild population of H. illucens seems be more suitable for maggot mass production as an alternative source of protein for animal feed production.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Differences in Life History Traits and Morphology in Wild vs. Domesticated Populations of Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)
    AU  - Mbenoun Masse Paul Serge
    AU  - Mbansie Gbetkom Loudh
    AU  - Yede
    AU  - Ngo Libong Sipora Glwadys
    AU  - Mamno Totuom Clarette Sidoine
    AU  - Bilong Bilong Charles Felix
    Y1  - 2023/06/06
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13
    T2  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    JF  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    JO  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    SP  - 71
    EP  - 79
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5850
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20231103.13
    AB  - The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens is widely studied as a sustainable alternative source of protein. Herein, we evaluated the changes in life history and morphometric traits between wild (WP) and domesticated populations (DP) with implications for larval biomass production. Prepupa stages of both populations were maintained under the same rearing conditions from July 2020 to June 2021. Our results show that the pupation time was longer in WP (10.25 ± 2.66 days) than in DP (7.2 ± 1.1 days). In contrast, the emergence time of BSF adults was shorter in WP (8.3 ± 2.2 days) than in DP (9.7 ± 1.8 days). The courtship was nearly similar in both populations. Mounting and reverse coupling were the two different copulation models used by BSF adults in WP while reverse coupling dominated in DP. The BSF females laid more eggs in WP (1468.75 ± 593.09 eggs) than in DP (246.21 ± 96.23 eggs). The egg stage was similar in length and width in both populations while the morphometric traits in the larval, pupal and adult stages were consistently lower in domesticated than in wild population. The life span of adults (males and females) was longer in DP than in WP. Our findings indicate higher values of morphological traits in WP than in DP, and distinct mating and reproductive behaviours between both populations. Our results suggest ‘domestication syndrome hypothesis’ as the main cause of changes in reproductive behaviour and reduction of size in DP. Therefore, wild population of H. illucens seems be more suitable for maggot mass production as an alternative source of protein for animal feed production.
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Laboratory of Zoology, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroun

  • Laboratory of Zoology, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroun

  • Laboratory of Zoology, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroun

  • Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Environment, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroun

  • Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroun

  • Laboratory of Parasitology and Ecology, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroun

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