Biodegradation of Pig Manure by the Housefly, Musca domestica: A Viable Ecological Strategy for Pig Manure Management

The technology for biodegradation of pig manure by using houseflies in a pilot plant capable of processing 500–700 kg of pig manure per week is described. A single adult cage loaded with 25,000 pupae produced 177.7±32.0 ml of eggs in a 15-day egg-collection period. With an inoculation ratio of 0.4–1.0 ml eggs/kg of manure, the amount of eggs produced by a single cage can suffice for the biodegradation of 178–444 kg of manure. Larval development varied among four different types of pig manure (centrifuged slurry, fresh manure, manure with sawdust, manure without sawdust). Larval survival ranged from 46.9±2.1%, in manure without sawdust, to 76.8±11.9% in centrifuged slurry. Larval development took 6–11 days, depending on the manure type. Processing of 1 kg of wet manure produced 43.9–74.3 g of housefly pupae and the weight of the residue after biodegradation decreased to 0.18–0.65 kg, with marked differences among manure types. Recommendations for the operation of industrial-scale biodegradation facilities are presented and discussed

Protecting the environment through insect farming as a means to produce protein for use as livestock, poultry, and aquaculture feed

Securing protein for the approximate 10 billion humans expected to inhabit our planet by 2050 is a major priority for the global community. Evidence has accrued over the past 30 years that strongly supports and justifies the sustainable use of insects as a means to produce protein products as feed for pets, livestock, poultry, and aquacultured species. Researchers and entrepreneurs affiliated with universities and industries, respectively, from 18 nations distributed across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia contributed to the development of this article, which is an indication of the global interest on this topic. A brief overview of insects as feed for the aquaculture industry along with a review of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), as a model for such systems is provided

Growth and Survival of Bagged Lucilia sericata Maggots in Wounds of Patients Undergoing Maggot Debridement Therapy

Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is an established method of debridement of nonhealing wounds. Despite intense clinical research about its efficacy and effects of substances produced by the larvae, growth and development of maggots in the wounds remain largely unexplored. In the present study, the bags with larvae (n=52), which had been used to debride traumatic, ischemic, diabetic and venous ulcers, were collected and examined. Survival, length, width and larval instar of the maggots within each bag were recorded and analyzed with respect to the wound type and duration of the treatment. Survival of maggots after a 48-h cycle of MDT ranged between 63.6 and 82.7%. Maggots in venous ulcers had on average 9–19% higher mortality than maggots within traumatic, ischemic, and diabetic ulcers. Length of larvae after 48 h cycle of MDT reached on average 7.09–9.68 mm, and average width varied between 1.77 and 2.26 mm. Larvae in venous ulcers were significantly smaller after 48 h, but not after 72 h treatment compared to the other wound types. Further studies should be aimed to identify other patient-associated factors which might influence growth and survival of the larvae during maggot debridement therapy

Larval development (mean ± SE) in different types of manure.

a<p>the number of days from egg seeding day until most of the larvae have pupated.</p>b<p>the values are expressed per 1 kg of manure.</p

Developmental time of the different stages of houseflies and the different colonies in the facility.

<p>Developmental time of the different stages of houseflies and the different colonies in the facility.</p

Floor plans of the biodegradation facilities.

<p>(A) Miloslavov pilot plant, (B) Alpuente facility.</p

Production cages used to rear adult houseflies.

<p>(A) Miloslavov cages, (B) Alpuente cages.</p

Productivity of cages with adult houseflies.

<p>Daily number of eggs per female (mean ± SE) collected in adult cages during the first 3 weeks in the Miloslavov facility (15 days, from the 5^th day after emergence) and during 5 weeks in the Alpuente facility (31 days, from the 1^st days after emergence). Miloslavov cages contained 25,000 pupae (n = 3). Alpuente cages contained 40,000 pupae (n = 4).</p

Effectiveness (mean±SE) of using a microwave oven for drying of manure residue after processing by house fly larvae.

<p>Effectiveness (mean±SE) of using a microwave oven for drying of manure residue after processing by house fly larvae.</p

Hypothetical number of cages (N_C), number of trolleys (N_T), and dimensions of adult (S_A) and biodegradation (S_B) rooms for facilities processing 1–10 tonnes of manure per week based on formulas 2 and 4, depending on the type of manure used.

a<p>number of adult cages calculated according to formula (1) and based on the egg production of production cages in the Miloslavov pilot plant (83 ml of eggs/week).</p>b<p>number of trolleys calculated according to formula (3) and based on the holding capacity of trolleys in the Miloslavov pilot plant (75 kg of manure/trolley).</p