Effect of Temperature and Photoperiod on Development, Survival, and Growth Rate of Mealworms, Tenebrio molitor

Insects

Stephan Eberle¹  Martin Schebeck¹  Christian Stauffer¹  Johannes Tintner²  Lisa-Marie Schaden³ 

[1] Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, A-1190 Vienna, Austria;Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, A-1190 Vienna, Austria;LarveMe (Formerly DieWurmfarm), A-9433 St. Andrä, Austria;

关键词: temperature;    photoperiod;    development;    entomophagy;    Tenebrio molitor;    mealworm;   

DOI  :  10.3390/insects13040321

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Insects are a potential substitute for conventional meat and can be part of a sustainable human diet due to their valuable nutrients and relatively low environmental production impact. One species that is already produced for human consumption and livestock feed is the mealworm, i.e., larvae of Tenebrio molitor. Knowledge of the effects of temperature, and particularly photoperiod, on mealworm development is scarce, but crucial for the improvement of rearing. Therefore, the effects of three temperatures (20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C), in combination with three photoperiods (long-day—16 h:8 h light:dark; short-day—8 h:16 h light:dark, and constant darkness) on mealworm survival, developmental time, and growth rate were tested. We describe a significant effect of temperature on survival rate, developmental time, and growth rate. Furthermore, significant effects of photoperiod on developmental time and growth rate were found. At 25 and 30 °C and constant darkness, the highest survival and growth rate, along with the shortest developmental time, were observed. Our data can be used to improve the mass rearing of mealworms for an efficient production of food and feed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown