Insect Husbandry

Moyet, M., A. Alyokhin, A. Buzza, and L.B. Perkins. 2023. Black soldier fly larvae as a recycling agent for cull potatoes. American Journal of Potato Research 100: 441-450.

The accumulation of cull potato piles is a concern because they take up space and harbor potato-associated pathogens. Black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, larvae are an increasingly popular agent for converting organic wastes into ingredients for animal feeds. In this investigation, their ability to process cull potato waste was assessed. Potato tubers were suitable for […]

Moyet, M., A. Alyokhin, A. Buzza, and L.B. Perkins. 2023. Black soldier fly larvae as a recycling agent for cull potatoes. American Journal of Potato Research 100: 441-450. Read More »

Moyet, M., H. Morrill, D. Leal Espinal, E. Bernard, and A. Alyokhin. 2023. Early growth patterns of Bacillus cereus on potato substrate in the presence of low densities of black soldier fly larvae. Microorganisms 11(5): 1284. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051284

Bacillus cereus is a common and ubiquitous bacterium that can cause foodborne illnesses in humans and other animals. Common methods of contact between foodborne pathogens and their victims include exposure through contaminated food or food containment products. Using larvae of black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens, for biological conversion of wastes into components of animal feeds

Moyet, M., H. Morrill, D. Leal Espinal, E. Bernard, and A. Alyokhin. 2023. Early growth patterns of Bacillus cereus on potato substrate in the presence of low densities of black soldier fly larvae. Microorganisms 11(5): 1284. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051284 Read More »

Kinney, M., M. Moyet, E. Bernard, and A. Alyokhin. 2022. Suppression of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and reduction of other bacteria by black soldier fly larvae reared on potato substrate. Microbiology Spectrum 10(5): e02321-22. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02321-22

Larvae of black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens, are increasingly used for biological conversion of animal and plant wastes into ingredients of animal feeds on an industrial scale. The presence of pathogenic microorganisms in harvested larvae may be a serious problem for wide-scale adoption of this technology. Fortunately, black soldier fly larvae may have some antimicrobial

Kinney, M., M. Moyet, E. Bernard, and A. Alyokhin. 2022. Suppression of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and reduction of other bacteria by black soldier fly larvae reared on potato substrate. Microbiology Spectrum 10(5): e02321-22. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02321-22 Read More »

Erbland, P., A. Alyokhin, and M. Peterson. 2021. An automated incubator for rearing black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens). Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 64: 1989-1997.

Biological conversion of agricultural wastes into animal feed ingredients using larvae of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a promising technology that improves the sustainability of agriculture. We designed and tested a prototype automated incubation system for producing black soldier fly larvae. The system consisted of six 50 L plastic bins enclosed on a ventilated

Erbland, P., A. Alyokhin, and M. Peterson. 2021. An automated incubator for rearing black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens). Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 64: 1989-1997. Read More »

Bernard, E., J. Villazana, A. Alyokhin, and J. Rose. 2020. Colonization of finfish substrate inhabited by black soldier fly larvae by blow flies, bacteria, and fungi. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 6: 291-304.

Black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) can be used for recycling a wide variety of organic wastes. However, these wastes are also suitable for colonisation by pest fly species, including the blow fly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and by pathogenic microorganisms. We tested effects of the presence of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on recruitment and

Bernard, E., J. Villazana, A. Alyokhin, and J. Rose. 2020. Colonization of finfish substrate inhabited by black soldier fly larvae by blow flies, bacteria, and fungi. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 6: 291-304. Read More »

Villazana, J. and A. Alyokhin. 2019. Development of black soldier fly larvae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) on seafood wastes. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 5: 313-319.

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is well suited for remediating biological waste. Larvae of this species are nutrient rich, grow rapidly, and convert organic wastes while suppressing pathogens and pests. Therefore, they could be used in waste management systems and as feed for livestock and in aquaculture. The goal of this study was

Villazana, J. and A. Alyokhin. 2019. Development of black soldier fly larvae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) on seafood wastes. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 5: 313-319. Read More »

Villazana, J. and A. Alyokhin. 2019. Tolerance of immature black soldier flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) to cold temperatures above and below freezing point. Journal of Economic Entomology 112: 2632-2637.

Black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens (L.), consume decaying organic materials at the larval stage and can be used for recycling a variety of biogenic wastes into value-added products. Black soldier flies are normally found in subtropical and warm temperate regions. Cold temperatures may prevent their establishment in colder areas, thus alleviating a concern of their becoming an

Villazana, J. and A. Alyokhin. 2019. Tolerance of immature black soldier flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) to cold temperatures above and below freezing point. Journal of Economic Entomology 112: 2632-2637. Read More »

Alyokhin, A., A. Buzza, and J. Beaulieu. 2019. Effects of food substrates and moxidectin on development of black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens. Journal of Applied Entomology 143: 137-143.

Black soldier fly is a common and widely distributed saprophagous species that has an excellent potential for being used for biological conversion of organic wastes on an industrial scale. The main goal of the reported study was expanding the list of wastes suitable for utilization by this species. We compared larval growth on cull potatoes,

Alyokhin, A., A. Buzza, and J. Beaulieu. 2019. Effects of food substrates and moxidectin on development of black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens. Journal of Applied Entomology 143: 137-143. Read More »