Devoradores de lixo: aspectos biológicos, produtivos e nutricionais da mosca soldado Hermetia illucens (L., 1758) (Díptera; Stratiomyidae) em resíduos sólidos orgânicos em Manaus, AM

Abstract

Among the problems explosive world population growth brings to the environment, this work proposes one possible solution to mitigate two problems: disposal of organic solid waste, and the pressure on the current supply of food protein. This solution is based on mass production of Hermetia Illucens larvae (L., 1758) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), also known as black soldier fly, to degrade organic solid waste, and also serve as an alternative source of animal protein. The optimization of this solution lies on understanding the biology of the insect to find out the relation of the quality and optimal amounts of organic matter to ensure its degradation, and enhance the larvae growth. Finally, knowing the quality of the larvae protein is fundamental to finding its consumer market. To understand these questions, quantitative experiments and analyzes were made. The organic solid residues used as food for the larvae showed in their centesimal composition 66% of humidity, 63,8% of carbohydrates, 13,8% of crude protein and 18,1% of fat. For the mass production of Hermetia Illucens larvae, the study sought to understand its life cycle in the Amazonian biome in comparison to the existing literature. In relation to the larvae biology, it was possible to observe an oviposition rate around 1002 eggs/female. The mating time takes about 15 minutes. It was observed a cycle of about 36 days from oviposition to adulthood. The eggs hatched on average at 74,75 hours. The development time of the larva from egg to the pre-pupae phase took around 21 days and pupation time 17,5 days. 74,48% of the egg reach the adult stage with a sex ratio of 3 males by 1 female. Regarding the supply of the optimum quantity of food to be supplied, it was concluded that for each 100 mg of Hermetia Illucens eggs, the supply of 2000g of restaurant waste in 2 fractions of 1000g with a 5-day feeding interval reached the best potential of dry. It was observed a organic solid waste weight reduction of 83,75% with a conversion rate of solid residue in proteic biomass of 23,2%. The pre-pupal as raw material for the production of animal protein showed 40% of crude protein and 32,6% of fat, while the flour of defatted pre-pupal showed levels around 58, 3% crude protein and 6.6% fat. The pre-pupal meal aminogram showed levels of essential amino acids above traditionally used protein sources, such as meat-and-bone meal, poultry viscera meal and soybean meal. The analysis of the fatty acids obtained from the larva brought high levels of lauric and palmitic acid, corroborating with the literature. This work has provided a good indication that the mass production of black soldier fly for degradation of organic waste and subsequent use as an animal protein is an excellent sustainable alternative to problems related to organic solid waste and alternative sources of protein.