New Insights of Black Soldier Fly; Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Biology and Effects of Temperature Transfers on Development.

The majority of studies regarding H. illucens focus on larva stage and its development using different food regimes, causing a lack of information in the other stages (Prepupa, Pupa, Male, and Female). The purpose of this research was to fill the lack of information of H. illucens specifically at prepupa, pupa, and adult stages and determine the optimal temperatures for rearing H. illucens. With the current study a better comprehension to increase the effectiveness and production of H. illucens is presented as follow: The construction of the first life table of H. illucens individually reared (chapter I), H. illucens grouped reared life table including new findings as its diapause and consumption potential (chapter II), as well as fecundity and thermal requirements using temperature transfers instead constant temperatures (chapter III).Table of Contents Executive Abstract i Table of Contents iii List of Tables vi List of Figures vii Thesis acknowledgment x Thesis Introduction 1 Chapter One 4 Survival and Development of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae): A Biodegradation Agent of Organic Waste 4 Abstract 5 Introduction 5 Materials and methods 7 Colony maintenance of H. illucens 7 Life table analysis 8 Results 10 Life table analysis 10 Population parameters of H. illucens 11 Discussion 12 Life table of H. illucens 12 Population parameters of H. illucens 14 References Cited Chapter One 17 Tables 1 through 3 25 Figures 1 through 5 28 Chapter Two 33 Degradation capacity and diapause effects on oviposition of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) 33 Abstract 34 Introduction 35 Materials and methods 38 Colony maintenance 39 The Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Table Study 39 Life table analysis 41 Results 49 Life table analysis 49 Population parameters of H. illucens 49 Consumption and degradation 51 Population and consumption projection 52 Discussion 53 References Cited Chapter Two 59 Tables 1 through 3 66 Figure 1 through 5 69 Chapter Three 74 Effects of temperature transfers on development, survival, and reproduction of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) 74 Abstract 75 Introduction 75 Materials and methods 77 Temperature-dependent development rate (Temperature Transfers) 77 Life table analysis 78 Results 78 Life table analysis 78 Population parameters of H. illucens 79 Discussion 80 Tables 1 through 4 82 Figures 1 through 4 86 References Cited Chapter Three 90 Thesis References 92 Thesis conclusions 9