Abstract
Black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, is an important beneficial insect. Numerous
studies have been conducted to understand the oviposition behavior and preferences of
BSF. This paper reports the effects of decomposition level of food and presence of
pupal remnants on the oviposition responses of BSF. Cages comprising of four
oviposition sites, housed with five male and female BSF were prepared. Gravid females
were provided with equal opportunities to oviposit in two sites with ripened banana
(mildly ripened (MR) or over-ripened banana (AR)) and two other sites with fresh
banana (OV). Three replicates in clockwise replication design were set up. The
presence of pupal cases in high, medium and low abundance were studied. The number
of eggs deposited at different sites were counted and expressed in percentage and
oviposition attraction index (OAI). Gravid BSF females showed greater attraction to
sites with over-ripened banana likely associating with the odor. BSF females also
exhibited a preference for egg laying at sites with less pupae cases. Sites with the most
abundance pupae cases were far less enticing as the pupae cases may deter the
ovipositing BSF. The findings of this study is important for development of effective
egg trapping and collection strategies in BSF farming.
Pei Chin Tan, Siong Fong Sim. (2020) Study of the oviposition response of black soldier fly (BSF) in the presence of banana and pupal remains, Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume 8, Issue-4.
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