Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 242-249, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.026

The effects of the particle size of four different feeds on the larval growth of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)Original article

Somaya NASER EL DEEN ORCID...1, 2, Thomas SPRANGHERS3, Ferdinando BALDACCHINO4, David DERUYTTER5
1 International Ph.D. Programme "Environment, Resources and Sustainable Development", Department of Science and Technology, Parthenope University of Naples, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy; e-mail: somayanasereldeen@gmail.com
2 CIHEAM-IAMB Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
3 Insectlab, Expertise Centre Agro- and Biotechnology, VIVES University of Applied Sciences, Campus Roeselare, Wilgenstraat 32, 8800 Roeselare, Belgium; e-mail: thomas.spranghers@vives.be
4 Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) - Trisaia Research Center - Department SSPT-BIOAG-PROBIO, 75026 Rotondella (MT), Italy; e-mail: ferdinando.baldacchino@enea.it
5 Insect Research Centre, Department of Aquaculture and Insect Rearing, Inagro, Ieperseweg 87, 8800 Rumbeke-Beitem, Belgium; e-mail: david.deruytter@inagro.be

Diet is one of the most important factors affecting the growth and lifecycle of Tenebrio molitor L. The chemical and nutritional properties of the diet of mealworms are well studied whereas its physical properties are almost neglected. This work aims to study the effects of four different particle sizes (0-0.8, 0.8-2, 2-3 and 3-4 mm) of four different feeds (wheat bran, chicken feed pellets, grounded corn kernels and alfalfa dried pellets). Four-week-old larvae were reared on the experimental substrates for four to six weeks depending on the feed. Our results indicate that particle size can significantly influence larval growth and that particles smaller than 2 mm improve larval growth on all feeds except alfalfa pellets. The maximum larval weight was slightly different for wheat bran (12%) when comparing particle sizes smaller than 2 mm with greater than 2 mm but increased up to 70% when corn kernels were used as feed. Significant differences were found between the different feeds for growth rate, larval weight and variability in larval weight. The larvae that reached an average weight of 100 mg the fastest were those reared on wheat bran followed by chicken feed and corn kernels. Larvae reared on alfalfa pellets did not reach an average weight of 60 mg. The variability in larval growth was lowest when fed wheat bran followed by chicken feed and alfalfa pellets, and the highest variability was recorded when fed corn kernels. In conclusion, both the type (wheat bran, chicken feed and corn kernels) and particle size (< 2 mm) of the feed were important determinants of larval growth.

Keywords: Yellow mealworm, weight variability, larval period, mass rearing

Received: April 14, 2021; Revised: June 8, 2022; Accepted: June 8, 2022; Published online: July 28, 2022  Show citation

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NASER EL DEEN, S., SPRANGHERS, T., BALDACCHINO, F., & DERUYTTER, D. (2022). The effects of the particle size of four different feeds on the larval growth of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). EJE, 119, Article 242-249. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2022.026
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