The Effect of Sustainably-Sourced Waste Food Diets on Yellow Mealworm Larvae (Tenebrio molitor)

Abstract

The agricultural industry contributes significantly to deforestation, pollution, climate change, and other deleterious global phenomena. As the world population grows, the demand for protein-rich foods, and thus the effects of their production, will dramatically increase. Insect species use less space and water, have significantly reduced feeding costs, and produce fewer emissions than traditional livestock (e.g.beef cattle). This project assessed the feasibility of feeding T.molitor larvae three diets (i.e. diet one -oatmeal, diet two - waste food, and diet three - animal protein and brewer’s spent grain).

Mortality rate and recruitment numbers at each stage of the T.molitor lifecycle were recorded for each diet. Compared to diets one and two, we observed that diet three had the lowest population numbers during the study period. However, low mortality observed amongst all three diet groups suggests that sufficient nutrients were present for survival. This supports T.molitor ability to grow on sustainably sourced waste food diets.