The Effect of Growth and Nutrition in Black Soldier Fly Larvae Fed by Hemp Seed Oil Mixed Diets

The black soldier fly (BSF), <i>Hermetia illucens,</i> has gained increasing attention as a sustainable protein source for animal feed. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with hemp seed oil (HSO) at 0.5-6% concentrations on the growth performance and nutritional composition of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). Larval development, survival rate, body weight, and adult longevity were evaluated under controlled conditions. In addition, chemical characterization of HSO was performed, and the proximate composition, mineral content, and amino acid profile of dried larvae were analyzed. The results indicated that HSO supplementation had no statistically significant effect on developmental time, survival rate, biomass accumulation, or adult lifespan compared to the control. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling of HSO revealed a wide range of bioactive compounds, including unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), phytosterols, cannabinoids, and tocopherols. The BSFL showed high levels of fat and energy, with essential amino acids and minerals present in favorable concentrations for feed applications. The HSO improves the protein levels at the 0.5-1.0% concentration, with negative correlations at higher concentrations. The findings suggest that HSO can be integrated into BSFL diets without adverse effects on growth performance, while potentially enhancing the functional value of the larvae. This supports the feasibility of incorporating hemp by-products into insect-rearing systems to promote circular and value-added feed production.