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ABSTRACT
The quality or quantity of resources affect the life-history traits of Hermitia illucensbehaviour, performance and population dynamics. This study was designed to investigate the influence of rice and beans waste-diets on pre-adult developmental rate of Hermitia illucens black soldier fly. The effect of larval diets on developmental period, survival, weight gain and sex ratio were investigated. Proximate analysis was also carried out on the various diets. The mean developmental period (days) of larvae raised in rice, beans and rice/beans diets were 41, 13 and 10 days respectively. The beans and rice/beans had the shortest developmental period compared to rice. Percentage survival for rice, beans and rice/beans were 51%, 73%, and 82% respectively. Beans and rice/beans had more survival than rice diet. The black soldier fly fed with rice diet had weight increase of 19.3%, beans had 58% and rice/beans produced 64% increase in weight. There was significant variations (P<0.05) in the developmental period, survival and weight gain. The sex ratio of males and females varied significantly from 1:1 ratio in rice diet while beans and rice/beans varied non-significantly. The result of the proximate analysis carried out on the various diets showed that significant difference was observed in the diets. Beans diet had higher amount of lipid, protein and crude fibre compared to rice. The analysis of the results show that the types of diets play an important role in the population dynamics of Hermitia illucens as beans was suitable in its rearing.
