Voracious larvae Hermetia illucens and treatment of selected types of biodegradable waste

Abstract

This report is focused on the ability of larvae Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) to consume different types of biodegradable waste. Waste was selected in groups 02, 19 a 20 according to the Waste Catalogue (in Decree No. 381/2001 Coll., Czech Republic). Experiments were carried out in 14 BioPods Plus that are especially designed for insect Hermetia illucens (HI) in order to consume waste. The experiments were measured in laboratory conditions (relatively constant temperature and humidity).The highest weight reduction of waste material (by 66.53% of the original mass) was reached in waste plant tissues. Weight reduction for food scraps – highly problematic kind of waste – was calculated by 46.04%. Worst results were achieved with compost tea from garden waste – larvae reduced the initial amount of waste by only 8.47%. Firstly grubs finished their life cycle after 35 days in catering waste, together with waste plant tissues, quality culled biodegradable municipal waste and poorly culled biodegradable municipal waste. The experiment was finished in 35 days.

Keywords

• black soldier fly
• waste management
• strategy of municipal waste