Impact of ergot-contaminated feed on yellow mealworm larvae performance and diet preference

This study aimed to determine if ergot alkaloids (EA) would accumulate in yellow mealworm larvae (YML, Tenebrio molitor) when present their diets and investigate effects on production survival. Larvae were reared one of four diets: a control, low, medium, high containing 63, 3,863, 8,471 15,316 μg/kg total EA, respectively. Each diet had five replicates with 150 YML per replicate totalling 3,000 for the 21-day trial. Initial final weights feed collected. Ergot alkaloid concentrations at d 21 32.6, 94.0 155.5 treatments respectively, none detected those fed control diet. The frass from medium contained 18, 364, 1,094, 1,424 Feed intake was reduced relative 23.3-24.9 g/21 compared 30.1 g (P=0.02). Feed-to-gain ratios, average daily gain, body did not differ among (P>0.05). display any preference allowed choose between accumulated only low levels EA although depressed, growth maintained. Further research is required safety EA-contaminated diets.