Unexplored Potentials of the Adult Black Soldier Fly: Behavioral Ecology, Reproductive Efficiency, and Ecological Contributions
A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2025 | Viewed by 400
Special Issue Editors
Interests: Hermetia illucens; Tenebrio molitor; animal nutrition; alternative protein sources
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Though its adult stage is still largely unexplored, insects and, in particular, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) have attracted a lot of attention for their larval uses in waste management and as a sustainable supply of protein, presenting potential for creative study. By analyzing how environmental elements like light spectrum, temperature, humidity, and even auditory or vibrational signals affect mating behaviors like lekking and pheromone-mediated attraction, research into the behavioral ecology of adult insects could maximize breeding efficiency. Furthermore, more focus should be placed on the wellbeing and lifespan of insects because studies on physiological markers like oxidative stress levels or stress indicators like movement patterns may yield important information for enhancing productivity and survivability. Studying adult diets, in particular how changes in nutritional input impact fecundity, egg viability, and lifespan, is another exciting direction that could improve reproductive results through customized feeding schedules. Additionally, investigating the ecological functions of adult insects, including their interactions with local species and potential pollination contributions, may deepen our comprehension of their environmental significance. Knowledge advancement in these fields advances ecological and entomological science more broadly while also improving insects’ management systems for industrial use.
Dr. Sihem Dabbou
Dr. Marco Meneguz
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- black soldier fly
- Tenebrio molitor
- adult stage
- mating behavior
- waste
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