• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.671-674
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• 2023

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of using Hermetia illucens larvae as environmental purification insects on ammonia and Hanwoo manure for 15 days in the Hanwoo farms. H.illucens larvae were allocated into four treatment groups and three replicates using a randomized block design. The treatments were as follows: control, normal 1000 g of Hanwoo manure, T1, 1000 g of Hanwoo manure + 100 g of 2nd instar H.illucens L. larvae, T2, 1000 g of Hanwoo manure + 100 g of 3rd instar H.illucens L. larvae, and T3, 1000 g of Hanwoo manure + 100 g of 4th instar H.illucens L. larvae. After 0 days, ammonia fluxes did not occur in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instar H.illucens larvae treatments (p<0.05). Among the characteristics of Hanwoo manure, the pH and nitrogen content increased for each larvae instar of H.illucens, whereas ADF and NDF content decreased (p<0.05). In particular, nitrogen contents were found to be highest in the 3rd instar larvae of H.illucens owing to their greater ability to decompose Hanwoo manure than larvae at other growth stages.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.25-30
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• 2018

The larvae of Hermetia. illucens have a high probability of coming into contact with microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Therefore, the survival of H. illucens is primarily the protection of their own against microbial infection. This effect depends on the development of the innate immune system. Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) exhibit antimicrobial activity against other bacterial strains and can provide important data to understand the basis of the innate immunity of H. illucens. In this study, we injected larvae with Enterococcus. faecalis (gram-positive bacteria) and Serratia. marcescens as (gram-negative bacteria) to test the hypothesis that H. illucens is protected from infection by its immune-related gene expression repertoire. To identify the inducible immune-related genes, we performed and cataloged the transcriptomes by RNA-Seq analysis. We compared the transcriptomes of whole larvae and obtained a DNA fragment of 465 bp including the poly (A) tail by RACE as a novel H. illucens immune-related gene against bacteria. A novel target mRNA expression was higher in immunized larvae with E. faecalis and S. marcescens groups than non-immunized group. We expect our study to provide evidence that the global RNA-Seq approach allowed for the identification of a gene of interest which was further analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR, together with genes chosen from the available literature.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.221-232
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• 2023

This study investigated the antioxidant effect of Hermetia illucens larvae using different extraction temperatures and solvents. We found significant differences in total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), an in three antioxidant indexes 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 1,1'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) contents, among the samples depending on the extraction temperature and solvent used. The sample extracted with water at 45℃ (HIW-45℃) showed the highest TPC, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP contents, while the sample extracted with water at 90℃ (HIW-90℃) showed the highest TFC. These differences can be due to the different chemical structures of the extracted components. Based on these results, HIW-45℃ was the optimal extraction method for Hermetia illucens. We intend to further investigate the availability of functional materials for Hermetia illucens using this method.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.965-972
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• 2023

As the world population growth and economy develops, the importance of eco-friendly organic waste resource treatment and up-cycling increases. Black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) treats organic waste resources that allows it to be recycled as a feed resource. In this study, we analyzed the nutrients composition, amino acid, and fatty acids of BSF larvae fed three agricultural by-products, namely apple pomace, mandarin waste, and oriental melon waste (mainly generated in South Korea). The highest BSF larvae crude protein and amino acid content was obtained in those fed mandarin waste compared with the other two diets (apple pomace and oriental melon waste). BSF larvae fed apple pomace had the highest crude fat, fatty acid, and lauric acid content compared with the other BSF larvae. Furthermore, all crude protein and fat content of BSF larvae fed the three agricultural by-products exceed that of the original agricultural by-products.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2020

Background: The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is gaining attention as an efficient decomposer of food waste. However, recalcitrant compounds such as plastics mixed into food waste may have negative effects on its growth and survival. Moreover, its efficiency of food waste degradation may also be affected by plastics. In addition, salt (NaCl) can also be present in high concentrations, which also reduces the efficiency of H. illucens-mediated food waste treatment. In this study, we assessed the growth of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) reared on food waste containing polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) and NaCl. The weight of BSFL was measured every 2-4 days. Survival and substrate reduction rates and pupation ratio were determined at the end of the experiment. Results: The total larval weight of Hermetia illucens reared on food waste containing PS was greater than that of the control on days 20 and 24. However, the survival rate was lower in the group treated with 5% PS, as was substrate reduction in all PS-treated groups. The weight of BSFL reared on food waste containing PE was lower than that of the control on day 6. PE in food waste did not affect the survival rate, but the pupation ratio increased and substrate consumption decreased with increasing PE concentrations. Regardless of the plastic type, the addition of NaCl resulted in decreased larval weight and pupation ratio. Conclusions: Larval growth of black soldier fly was inhibited not by plastics but by substrate salinity. Additional safety assessments of larvae reared on food waste containing impurities are needed to enable wider application of BSFL in vermicomposting.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1409-1414
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• 2016

In the larvae of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, innate immunity mechanisms are activated in response to various pathogens and stimulants, resulting in the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). To induce the mass production of AMPs, H. illucens fifth instar larvae were immunized with five different kinds of bacteria. We isolated from the hemolymph of the H. illucens larvae after bacterial challenge, and their antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) were measured using the inhibition zone assay. Among these five different kinds of bacteria, the hemolymph of Bacillus subtilis-challenged H. illucens larvae showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of the hemolymph of $1{\times}10^9cfu/ml$ B. subtilis-challenged H. illucens peaks at 24 hr at 48 hr post-infection and gradually declines with time. Moreover, the immunized hemolymph also showed strong antimicrobial activity against various poultry pathogens such as S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium, and S. pullorum. These results suggest that the expression of AMP genes in B. subtilis-challenged H. illucens is up-regulated by innate immune responses, and that B. subtilis-challenged H. illucens overexpressing AMPs may be useful as a feed additive in livestock diets to reduce the need for antibiotics.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.34-40
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• 2023

As agricultural production increases due to population growth, agricultural by-products that are generated at all production stages increase commensurately. Black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) treatment has potential as an environmentally friendly process to combat the environmental pollution caused by agricultural by-products. This study examined the utilization of BSF larvae in the decomposition of the by-products of apples and mandarins, fruits commonly produced in South Korea. The BSF test larvae were fed apple pomace or mandarin waste, and the control larvae were fed calf feed. Larval weight and size were measured at 4-day intervals until larvae reached the pre-pupal stage. Larval development time, survival rate, and BSF fecundity rate were calculated for all three substrates. Waste reduction and bioconversion ratios were also calculated. The developmental time of larvae fed with apple pomace and mandarin waste was greater than that of the control larvae. The average weight of larvae fed with the fruit by-products was less than that of the control. There was no significant difference in the survival rate of BSF larvae or the fecundity rate of BSF between the substrates used in this study. BSF larvae decomposed 48.0% and 61.5% of apple pomace and mandarin waste, respectively. The bioconversion efficiency rates of BSF larvae fed with apple pomace and mandarin waste were 9.1% and 12.1%, respectively. These results indicated that decomposition of single fruit by-products by BSF larvae is an environmentally friendly and effective bioconversion process.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.95-98
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• 2013

The experiment was conducted to determine the value of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae and pupae as feed supplements for fresh-water fish (Carassius auratus). Black soldier fly larvae grown on food waste were fed to fresh-water fish, live larvae alone, dried larvae, dried pupae and combination with commercial fish diet. A 16-week feed trial was conducted to determine whether black soldier fly larvae could be used as a feed supplement in fresh-water fish. The growth performance indicated that fish fed the live larvae ranked consistently higher, and in combination with commercial fish diet and dried larvae and pupae were next higher. The finding of this study suggest that black soldier fly larvae and pupae may be valuable feedstuff in commercial fish production.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1305-1307
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• 2018

We investigate the effects of the immune function (HI titer) in broilers fed diets containing Hermetia illucens (H. illucens) peptide extract over a 40-day period. Twenty-four broiler chicks (Arbor Acres, 1 d old) were divided into four groups and fed different diets (control, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% H. illucens peptide extract). To evaluate HI titer, all broilers were vaccinated with H9H2 vaccine subcutaneously on the lateral thorax, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Similar HI titer was observed with 1% H. illucens peptide extract treatment compared to the control after 40 days (p>0.01). Groups fed 0.5% H. illucens peptide extract demonstrated the most effective immune effects (p<0.01), followed by groups fed 0.1% H. illucens peptide extract. In conclusion, using 0.1% or 0.5% H. illucens peptide extract before or after vaccination improved HI titer immune function in broilers.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.883-890
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• 2022

The present study investigated the feasibility of using the ethanolic extract of Hermetia illucens larvae (HIE) as a whitening improvement material. In cell viability assays using B16F1 melanoma cells, no cytotoxicity was recorded up to 200 ㎍·mL^-1 of HIE. Moreover, while tyrosinase inhibitory activity increased, melanin content decreased in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that HIE likely inhibited tyrosine-induced intracellular melanin biosynthesis in B16F1 melanoma cells. Therefore, HIE is expected to serve as a potent whitening improvement material.