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Determination of microplastics in reared black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) using polarised light optical microscopy
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Researchers developed a method using polarized light microscopy to detect whether microplastics transfer from feed substrate into black soldier fly larvae, a promising insect species for circular food systems. They tested larvae reared on feed contaminated with polyethylene and PET particles mimicking food packaging, and found no significant effects on larval survival or yield. The study suggests that insects may handle plastic-contaminated feed differently than conventional livestock, potentially enabling organic waste streams to be repurposed as insect feed.
Abstract Microplastics have become ubiquitous in the environment and are increasingly found in a variety of matrices, including in animal feed. At the same time, the presence of plastics from packaging materials in animal feed is still prohibited in the European Union. This is a major barrier preventing certain organic waste streams from being repurposed as feed. However, issues associated with the presence of plastic particles in feed for ‘conventional’ livestock such as poultry and pigs (e.g. accumulation in stomach/other tissues) may not pose a problem to reared insects such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). In the hypothetical absence of such transfer, insects reared on feed contaminated with plastics could potentially be repurposed as feed. Such reuse would be a major opportunity for a more circular food chain. The aim of this exploratory study was to develop a method to determine the potential transfer of microplastics from the substrate to biomass of reared BSFL. Tested plastics consisted of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) of three different sizes, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); to mimic the types of synthetic polymers commonly used for food packaging. The results showed no significant effects of dietary exposure of tested (micro-)plastics on larval yield and survival. We benchmarked fluorescence microscopy through Nile Red staining against a newly developed technique utilizing polarised light optical microscopy to identify plastic particles in BSFL. Tested LDPE particles were virtually absent from the post-exposure larvae. PET was recovered from the larvae, although it is unclear what the exact mechanism for this transfer was. More research is needed to validate these experimental findings with plastics of different types and particle sizes.
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Researchers fed black soldier fly larvae diets containing PVC microplastics at various concentrations and found the insects could tolerate even high levels (20% of diet) without significant increases in death rates. The larvae ingested and reduced the size of the plastic particles, and while their overall gut microbial diversity remained stable, certain bacterial and fungal populations shifted. This suggests black soldier flies could potentially help process plastic waste, though the safety of using these insects as animal feed after plastic exposure needs further study.
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Researchers studied how black soldier fly larvae, used to convert food waste into animal feed, interact with microplastics of different sizes and shapes. The larvae ingested microplastics along with their food but could not fully break them down, passing most of them through in their waste. This raises food safety concerns because if microplastics persist in the larvae, they could transfer up the food chain when the larvae are used as feed for livestock or fish.
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Researchers fed black soldier fly larvae substrates contaminated with heavy metals, microplastics, and food pathogens to evaluate tolerance and bioconversion efficiency, finding that certain contaminants reduced larval performance and bioconversion rates with implications for insect-based waste recycling.
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A comparative study of effects of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics on the growth and development of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens).
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Researchers investigated the digestion, accumulation, and excretion of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics in black soldier fly larvae, finding that both types accumulated only in the larval gut and had no adverse effects on larval growth or development. Larvae efficiently excreted microplastics before pupation, suggesting BSFL could process plastic-contaminated organic waste without significant bioaccumulation.
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