Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
The Influence of Wet Feed pH on the Growth of Tenebrio molitor Larvae
For optimal growth, Tenebrio molitor needs both dry feed and wet feed. Storing dry feed is not a problem, but storing wet feed over a prolonged period is more challenging due to spoilage. It could be stored in a refrigerated room, but this process is energy consuming and therefore increases the price of production. Another option is to ferment the feed, as is done regularly in other branches of agriculture. No energy is needed, and the feed remains stable due to low pH levels. In this study, we assessed the growth of mealworm larvae fed with wheat bran and agar-agar gel. Different treatments received agar-agar gel of a specific pH, varying between 3 and 9 in increments of one pH unit, resulting in seven assessed pH values. The average weight of the larvae was determined every week until maximum weight was achieved. Mealworms at harvest grown at the lowest pH (3.02) were on average 8.1% lighter than their counterparts grown at higher pH levels. However, within ranges that could realistically occur in a mealworm production setting (pH > 3.5), no significant differences were found. In conclusion, fermentation can be used to store mealworm wet feed, without pH having a detrimental effect on mealworm growth.
The Influence of Wet Feed pH on the Growth of Tenebrio molitor Larvae
For optimal growth, Tenebrio molitor needs both dry feed and wet feed. Storing dry feed is not a problem, but storing wet feed over a prolonged period is more challenging due to spoilage. It could be stored in a refrigerated room, but this process is energy consuming and therefore increases the price of production. Another option is to ferment the feed, as is done regularly in other branches of agriculture. No energy is needed, and the feed remains stable due to low pH levels. In this study, we assessed the growth of mealworm larvae fed with wheat bran and agar-agar gel. Different treatments received agar-agar gel of a specific pH, varying between 3 and 9 in increments of one pH unit, resulting in seven assessed pH values. The average weight of the larvae was determined every week until maximum weight was achieved. Mealworms at harvest grown at the lowest pH (3.02) were on average 8.1% lighter than their counterparts grown at higher pH levels. However, within ranges that could realistically occur in a mealworm production setting (pH > 3.5), no significant differences were found. In conclusion, fermentation can be used to store mealworm wet feed, without pH having a detrimental effect on mealworm growth.
The Influence of Wet Feed pH on the Growth of Tenebrio molitor Larvae
Carl L. Coudron (Autor:in) / David Deruytter (Autor:in) / Jonas Claeys (Autor:in)
2022
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Unbekannt
Metadata by DOAJ is licensed under CC BY-SA 1.0
Utilization of Carrot Pomace to Grow Mealworm Larvae (Tenebrio molitor)
| DOAJ | 2021
Feed Parameters Influencing the Breeding of Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor)
| DOAJ | 2021
Biodegradation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae
| DOAJ | 2020
The Effects of Density on the Growth and Temperature Production of Tenebrio molitor Larvae
| DOAJ | 2022