Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Peer Review #3 of "Genetic diversity and organic waste degrading capacity of Hermetia illucens from the evergreen forest of the Equatorial Choco lowland (v0.1)"

This is a peer review report for a study on the genetic diversity and plastic-degrading capacity of black soldier fly larvae in Ecuador. The review assessed research on using insects to break down plastic and organic waste as an eco-friendly waste management approach.

2023
Article Tier 2

Peer Review #1 of "Genetic diversity and organic waste degrading capacity of Hermetia illucens from the evergreen forest of the Equatorial Choco lowland (v0.1)"

This is a peer review report for the original version of the study on black soldier fly larvae in Ecuador. The reviewer assessed the methodology and claims about using insects for plastic waste management and biodegradation.

2023
Article Tier 2

Peer Review #1 of "Genetic diversity and organic waste degrading capacity of Hermetia illucens from the evergreen forest of the Equatorial Choco lowland (v0.2)"

This is a peer review report for a revised version of the study on black soldier fly larvae as plastic and organic waste degraders in Ecuador. The reviewer evaluated whether revisions adequately addressed concerns about the methods for assessing plastic degradation capacity.

2023
Article Tier 2

Peer Review #2 of "Genetic diversity and organic waste degrading capacity of Hermetia illucens from the evergreen forest of the Equatorial Choco lowland (v0.1)"

This is another peer review report for the original black soldier fly study on plastic degradation in Ecuador. The reviewer provided independent feedback on the same manuscript assessing insect-based approaches to managing plastic waste.

2023
Article Tier 2

The Role of Organic Waste Feed Combination on Growth Rate and Nutrient Content of Hermetia Illucens Larvae

This study examines how different organic waste feed combinations affect the growth and nutritional content of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae. While not directly about microplastics, these larvae are also studied for their ability to biodegrade plastic waste.

2023 MANILKARA Journal of Bioscience
Article Tier 2

KAPASITAS LARVA BLACK SOLDIER FLY (Hermetia illucens Linnaeus, 1758) DALAM MENDEGRADASI LIMBAH ORGANIK YANG TERKONTAMINASI MIKROPLASTIK

Indonesian researchers tested the ability of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae to degrade organic waste contaminated with polyethylene (PE) and PET microplastics. The larvae demonstrated measurable degradation of plastic-contaminated organic waste, suggesting a biologically-based approach to managing plastic-mixed organic waste.

2025 Digital Library UIN Sunan Kalijaga (Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University)
Article Tier 2

Examining the potential of plastic-fed black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) as "bioincubators" of plastic-degrading bacteria.

Researchers examined whether black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) fed on plastic waste can serve as 'bioincubators' for plastic-degrading bacteria, investigating how gut microbiota shifts in response to plastic-containing diets and whether these bacteria retain degradation activity.

2025 Journal of applied microbiology
Article Tier 2

A comparative study of effects of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics on the growth and development of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens).

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.

2023 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the diet of Hermetia illucens: Implications for development and midgut bacterial and fungal microbiota

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.

2024 Waste Management 12 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Toxicity and bioconversion: Meta-analytical insights into microplastic effects on black soldier fly rearing

This meta-analysis found that microplastics in organic waste can reduce black soldier fly larval growth and survival, though larvae demonstrated some capacity to biodegrade certain plastic polymers. The findings are important because black soldier fly larvae are increasingly used for sustainable waste processing, and microplastic contamination in waste streams could compromise this approach.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics and salinity on food waste processing by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae

Researchers investigated how microplastics and salinity levels affect the ability of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) to process food waste, finding that both factors can negatively influence larval growth, survival, and food waste degradation efficiency. The results highlight challenges for using this insect as a bioconversion tool in contaminated or coastal waste streams.

2020 Journal of Ecology and Environment 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastics shape the black soldier fly larvae gut microbiome and select for biodegrading functions

Researchers found that black soldier fly larvae can adapt their gut microbiome to digest a wide range of plastics, shifting their microbial communities to favor biodegrading functions. This suggests the insects could serve as living incubators for discovering new plastic-breaking enzymes for industrial cleanup applications.

2023 Microbiome 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut microbiome of black soldier fly larvae for efficient use and purification of organic waste: An environmentally friendly development concept

This review examines how black soldier fly larvae and their gut bacteria can break down organic waste, including microplastics, heavy metals, and antibiotics. The larvae's gut microbiome plays a key role in degrading these harmful substances while converting waste into useful protein and fertilizer. This biological approach could help reduce the amount of microplastic-contaminated waste that enters the environment and food chain.

2025 The Innovation Life 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of the size and shape of microplastics on their ingestion and excretion by BSF larvae during waste bioconversion

Researchers investigated how the size and shape of microplastics affect their ingestion and excretion rates by black soldier fly (BSF) larvae during organic waste bioconversion, examining the implications for microplastic fate in biological waste treatment systems.

2024 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

A decade of advances in black soldier fly research: from genetics to sustainability

This review summarizes a decade of research on the black soldier fly, an insect increasingly used for animal feed, human food, and waste processing. The review covers how these insects can help manage organic waste, including research into their ability to break down certain plastics. This is relevant to microplastics research because black soldier flies are being explored as a biological tool for processing plastic waste, though questions remain about whether plastic residues could transfer through the food chain.

2024 Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of heavy metals, microplastics, and food pathogens on black soldier fly larvae

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.

2025 Lirias (KU Leuven)
Article Tier 2

Use of Black Soldier Fly Larvae for Food Waste Treatment and Energy Production in Asian Countries: A Review

This review examined the use of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) for treating food and organic waste in Asian countries, summarizing bioconversion efficiencies, types of waste processed, and the quality of resulting biomass products including oils and proteins.

2021 Processes 175 citations
Article Tier 2

Organic side streams (bioproducts) as substrate for black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) intended as animal feed: chemical safety issues

This review examines chemical safety hazards of black soldier fly larvae reared on organic waste substrates as animal feed, finding that larvae can accumulate heavy metals, excrete mycotoxins, and reduce pesticide concentrations, while microplastics and organic pollutants do not appear to alter larval growth or composition.

2022 Animal Production Science 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Trace metal elements and microplastics ingestion during biowaste recycling by black soldier larvae

Researchers examined the ingestion of trace metal elements and microplastics by black soldier fly larvae during biowaste recycling, assessing whether this valorization pathway introduces contaminant risks into the insect biomass and resulting frass.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Enhanced biodegradation of microplastic and phthalic acid ester plasticizer: The role of gut microorganisms in black soldier fly larvae

Researchers discovered that black soldier fly larvae can biodegrade microplastics and phthalate plasticizers, with their gut microorganisms playing a key role in the breakdown process. The study found that the larvae's digestive bacteria enhanced the degradation of both contaminants, suggesting that insect-based bioprocessing could offer a novel approach to addressing plastic pollution.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics affected black soldier fly (Hermetiaillucens) pupation and short chain fatty acids

Researchers exposed black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae to polypropylene microplastics and found that MP exposure delayed pupation, altered larval development, and shifted gut short-chain fatty acid profiles, suggesting that microplastics disrupt both development and gut microbiome function in this widely used bioconversion insect.

2021 Journal of Applied Entomology 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and egestion dynamics of micro- and nanoplastics in black soldier fly larvae

Researchers investigated the ingestion and egestion dynamics of micro- and nanoplastics in black soldier fly larvae, examining how these insects process plastic particles and their potential role in plastic breakdown.

2024 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Environmental Performance of Hermetia illucens Bioconversion in a Medium-Scale Mass Rearing System to Valorize Agri-Food Industrial Residue

Researchers used life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental performance of black soldier fly larvae bioconversion across six agro-industrial residues at medium scale, finding it offers a promising circular pathway for valorizing food waste while reducing plastic-associated environmental burdens.

2025 Sustainability
Article Tier 2

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) as a high-potential agent for bioconversion of municipal primary sewage sludge

Researchers tested whether black soldier fly larvae could safely process municipal sewage sludge — a major waste management challenge — by feeding the sludge mixed with a standard insect diet to larvae. The larvae survived well and reduced concentrations of heavy metals like copper and zinc below legal limits, suggesting this insect-based bioconversion could turn a problematic waste stream into useful protein, lipids, and soil conditioner.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 43 citations