Influence of Temperature, Relative Humidity and Protein Content on the Growth and Development of Larvae of the Lesser Mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer)

Konstantina Kotsou, Christos I. Rumbos, Georgia V. Baliota, Marina Gourgouta and Christos G. Athanassiou
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Konstantina Kotsou: Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Phytokou Str., 38446 Volos, Greece
Christos I. Rumbos: Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Phytokou Str., 38446 Volos, Greece
Georgia V. Baliota: Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Phytokou Str., 38446 Volos, Greece
Marina Gourgouta: Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Phytokou Str., 38446 Volos, Greece
Christos G. Athanassiou: Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Phytokou Str., 38446 Volos, Greece

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-11

Abstract: The human population is rapidly growing, subsequently leading to an increase in food and protein demand. Therefore, alternative protein sources have to be evaluated as food and feed. Among the most promising alternative protein sources with significant advantages are insects. Nevertheless, insect rearing conditions have to be optimized prior to insect mass production. In the present study, using laboratory bioassays, we evaluated the effect of several biotic and abiotic factors on the development of the larvae of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer). In the first series of bioassays, we investigated A. diaperinus larval growth at three temperatures (25, 30 and 32 °C) and two relative humidity (r.h.) levels (55 and 75%). Furthermore, in the second series of bioassays, the larval growth was assessed on wheat bran-based substrates with different percentages of yeast, i.e., 0%, 10%, 17.5%, 25%, 32.5% and 40%. According to our results, the temperature was shown to be highly important for larval development, with A. diaperinus larvae performing better at the higher temperatures tested, i.e., 30 and 32 °C. In contrast, relative humidity did not have a significant effect on A. diaperinus growth, at least for the relative humidity levels tested. Finally, the increase in the percentage of yeast in the diet increased larval growth, development and survival. Our study aims to highlight the significance of several biotic and abiotic factors for the rearing of A. diaperinus larvae, providing parameters that can be further utilized in mass rearing protocols of this species.

Keywords: alternative protein source; edible insects; insect protein; insects as food and feed; larval growth; lesser mealworm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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