Akwa, Teh Exodus, Tanyitiku, Mary Nkongho ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3809-4340 and Hastings, Formara Momos Nia (2026) Evaluating the effectiveness of bait attractants on mating behaviour, oviposition and egg-laying duration in black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). Journal of Applied Entomology. ISSN 0931-2048 (Print), 1439-0418 (Online) (doi:10.1111/jen.70156)

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Abstract

Optimizing the reproductive performance of Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is essential for efficient mass-rearing for waste bioconversion and animal feed production. This study evaluated the effects of different bait attractants on mating behaviour, oviposition and egg-laying duration of H. illucens adults. Four bait treatments: fermented fruit mixture (FFM), fish hydrolysate (FH), brewer's yeast (BY) and a control (C) consisting of the standard oviposition substrate without the addition of any olfactory bait or attractant were tested in replicated cages (n = 4 per treatment) containing 20 sexually mature pairs each. Mating frequency, mating duration, pre-oviposition period, egg clutch size, total number of clutches and egg-laying du-ration were recorded over a 10-day period. Results showed that FFM significantly enhanced mating activity, with an average of 15.6 ± 1.2 matings per replicate compared to 10.2 ± 0.9 in controls (p < 0.05) and increased mating duration to 32.5 ± 2.1 min versus 24.3 ± 1.8 min in controls. The pre-oviposition period was shortest in the FFM group (2.8 ± 0.25 days), significantly lower than BY (4.1 ± 0.18 days) and control (4.3 ± 0.20 days). Fish hydrolysate promoted larger egg clutches (562 ± 45 eggs) and higher total clutch production (11.8 ± 0.7 clutches) compared with control (398 ± 37 eggs; 8.5 ± 0.6 clutches; p < 0.05). Brewer's yeast did not produce significant differences from the control in any measured parameter. Egg-laying duration did not differ significantly among treatments (p = 0.12). These findings demonstrate that bait attractants differentially affect reproductive behaviours of H. illucens, with fermented fruit mixtures enhancing mating and oviposition initiation, and fish hydrolysate increasing egg production. Incorporating these attractants into rearing systems can improve reproductive efficiency, providing a practical strategy for sustainable industrial-scale production of black soldier flies.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	bait attractants, black soldier fly, egg-laying duration, mating behaviour, oviposition
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QL Zoology S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research > Food Systems & Nutrition
Last Modified:	29 Sep 2026 12:46
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/54517

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