An investigative study to utilise the Fusarium-damaged wheat as a feedstock for the black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens)

Abstract This study investigated Fusarium -damaged wheat kernels (FDK) as a potential feeding substrate for black soldier fly larvae ( Hermetia illucens ; BSFL). Fusarium -damaged kernels are considered unsuitable for food and feed due to the presence of mycotoxins. Mycotoxins, like deoxynivalenol (DON), pose health risks when consumed by animals at concentrations exceeding the limits established by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. However, BSFL have shown higher tolerance to mycotoxins, suggesting that FDK may be used as a feeding substrate for BSFL intended for animal consumption. To assess this, three FDK-based diets with varying concentrations of DON (4.49 ± 0.08 ppm, 6.04 ± 0.02 ppm, and 6.83 ± 0.04 ppm) and a healthy wheat-based diet (0 ppm DON; control diet) were formulated to grow the larvae. The diets were fed to larvae to assess their preference based on DON concentration. Concurrently, the accumulation of DON in BSFL biomass and its effects on growth parameters were evaluated. The larvae showed no preference for any DON concentration. The DON levels accumulated in the BSFL biomass were minimal, regardless of the DON concentration in the feed ( ), with the highest recorded at 0.87 ± 0.04 ppm compared to 6.83 ± 0.06 ppm in the diet. Despite the potential harm of FDK to animals, the growth parameters of BSFL improved, with larvae on FDK-based diets reaching a live body weight of 185.0 ± 3.2 mg compared to 177.6 ± 4.2 mg for the control on Day 15. The nutritional profile remained nearly identical across all DON concentrations (∼41% crude lipid and ∼39% crude protein in dried biomass). These findings suggest that BSFL raised on FDK-based diets can be used effectively for feed purposes.