February 15-18, 2009 Washington State Convention Center Seattle ...

SOLDIER FLY PREPUPAE AS AN ALTERNATIVE FEED FOR CHANNEL CATFISH
G. J. Burtle*, D. C. Sheppard and G. L. Newton.
Animal & Dairy Science
University of Georgia
Tifton, GA 31793 USA
gburtle@uga.edu
Black soldier fly, Hermitia illucens, produce a harvestable prepupae that has potential as a substitute for fish meal or other
animal protein sources in diets for fish, such as channel catfish. Dried black soldier fly prepupae contains 42% CP (Met 0.83%,
Lys 2.21%, Cys 0.31%) and 35% lipid (lauric 53.4%, linoleic 8.8%). Calcium and phosphorus are 5.0 and 0.88% respectively
when grown on swine manure. Lipid and mineral composition change considerably as the soldier fly larval diet is changed.
For example, omega three fatty acids can be increased by adding materials that contain these lipids to the larval diet. Soldier fly
larvae can utilize plant products to provide a high quality ingredient for carnivorous fish and crustaceans as outlined in Goal 5
of the PPA Strategic Plan. Channel catfish (10 g) were fed diets containing 0, 7.5, 15, 22.5 or 30% soldier fly Prepupae Meal
(SF) with the 0% SF diet containing 8% menhaden fish meal and soybean meal, wheat middlings, corn, and soy oil varied to
make the diets similar in energy (DE, 2,934+ 75 kcal/kg) and protein (32.09+ .09% CP). Growth after eight weeks was similar
(P