Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens, BSFL) is an environmental purification insect utilized as an animal feed source due to its high protein content. BSFL need to be dried to preserve quality, and the optimal drying method should be cost-effective. In this study, various drying methods (hot air (HD), freeze (FD), vacuum (VD), and combined-drying (CD)) were applied to BSFL, and then BSFL powders were characterized. Crude protein content was highest in HD and lowest in CD, and there was no significant difference in crude fat content (p>0.05). In the measurement of the total amino acid content of BSFL, glutamic acid and aspartic acid were the highest regardless of the drying method. The total amino acid content was the highest in HD and the lowest in CD. Total polyphenol content was higher in VD and FD than in HD and CD. Also, hydrogen peroxide and DPPH radical scavenging showed similar results. In the antioxidant measurement results, VD and FD showed higher antioxidant capacity, but considering cost-effectiveness, HD was the most available method for drying BSFL.

This study investigated the quality characteristics of emulsion-type chicken breast sausages containing black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) powder. The chicken breast and BSFL powder were added at various mixing ratios (C:chicken breast 56% and BSFL powder 0%, 1%:chicken breast 55% and BSFL powder 1%, 2%:chicken breast 54% and BSFL powder 2%, 3%:chicken breast 53% and BSFL powder 3%). The pH, moisture content, and water holding capacity of the sausages increased with the powder amount. In the instrumental color evaluation, the L* and b* values were significantly different among the samples (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in a* value (P>0.05) with the amount of powder added. Volatile basic nitrogen and acid value tended to increase with the amount of BSFL powder. The total phenolic content tended to increase, but the value of IC50 according to DPPH radical scavenging decreased as the amount of powder increased. This study concluded that BSFL powder can be used in meat products processing as a substitute for meat protein and may also improve antioxidant activity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary Hermetia illucens powder on duck litter quality. One hundred twenty Pekin ducks (0 day old) were assigned to 2 groups (0% and 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder) with 3 replicates (20 ducks per replicate) for 42 days. Duck litter quality included moisture, pH, VBN, total nitrogen, ammonia, and temperature. Litter pH and VBN values were significantly affected by Hermetia illucens powder (p<0.05). However, moisture and total nitrogen values were not greatly influenced by the addition of 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder (p>0.05). At 21, 28 and 35 days, both 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder and controls had a great effect (p<0.05) on ammonia contents, except at 7, 14 and 42 days. In comparison to control, ammonia contents in groups with 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder were reduced from 16.9 to 41.8% as the days increased. Duck litter showed lower temperature by 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder compare to control. In terms of environmental managements, these results suggest that using 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder as feed additives improved litter quality and decreased ammonia contents.

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of broilers fed different levels of Hermetia illucens powder. A total of 400 broiler chicks (1-day old Arbor Acres) were fed commercial diets containing H. illucens powder at 0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% with four replicates (25 chicks per replicate), for 35 days. Weight gain in broilers fed diets containing different levels of H. illucens powder increased significantly at 28 and 35 days, compared with that of the control (p<0.05). However, feed intake and mortality showed no differences among the treatments as a function of time. At 21, 28, and 35 days, broilers fed different levels of H. illucens powder had lower feed conversion rates (p<0.05) than their counterparts fed the control diet. In conclusion, 0.5% H. illucens powder is the optimal level for improved weight gain and feed conversion.