Life on a piece of cake: performance and fatty acid profiles of black soldier fly larvae fed oilseed by-products

The oilseed crops Crambe abyssinica and Camelina sativa produce oils rich in erucic acid n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), respectively. After pressing the oil, a seed cake remains as protein-rich by-product. Edible insects may convert this press defatted meal produced from it into insect biomass suitable for animal feed. Black soldier fly larvae (BSF, Hermetia illucens) can grow on wide range of organic waste types, but be hindered by excess protein or plant toxins characteristic these two crops, i.e. glucosinolates their breakdown products. We tested effects 25, 50 100% by-product inclusion diet survival, development, production composition BSF larvae. Larval performance diets with up to 50% camelina 25% crambe was similar control (chicken feed), decreased higher percentages. profiles differed significantly among diets, fed more distinct than meal. Larvae had ?-linolenic acid, whereas contained most oleic acid. n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio increasing proportion by-product, especially diets. Lauric content highest These results indicate that successfully grown by-products, resulting larval is favourable However, fate derivatives determined, guarantee chemical safety camelina- crambe-fed