Catering waste as a superior substrate for black soldier fly larvae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

This study evaluated the effects of catering waste, chicken manure, pig manure, and cattle dung on the growth, nutrient conversion, and composition of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)). Larvae (200 g per group) were reared under controlled conditions (27 ± 3 °C, 60 ± 10% RH), with substrate-specific metrics analyzed. Catering waste-fed BSFL achieved the highest dry weight (15.8 g, P < 0.05), feed conversion efficiency (feed-to-larva ratio: 7.38; effective rate: 68.2%), and superior nutritional profiles, including crude protein (42.3%) and ether extract (32.3%), significantly outperforming manure-based substrates (P < 0.05). Substrate composition critically influenced larval nutrient accumulation, with strong correlations between larval calcium, phosphorus, and lipid content and substrate nutrient levels (P < 0.05). Cattle dung yielded the lowest larval growth and conversion efficiency. These results highlight catering waste as an optimal substrate for BSFL production, emphasizing its role in enhancing waste valorization and sustainable protein generation. Substrate-driven nutrient engineering strategies are proposed to optimize larval productivity and nutritional quality for circular agriculture systems.