Improving Breeding Efficiency of Local Population of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) (Stratiomyidae: Diptera) by Crossing with a Distant Thrissur Population and Evaluation of the Progeny

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens is a much sought after insect now a days for waste management and also as an alternative source of proteins for animals, poultries and fish.It is being reared on large scale in commercial farms in various parts of the world including Africa to cater to the needs of the poultries, piggeries, protein processing units or waste management units.However, with increase in the commercial value of the insect, breeding programs have been focusing on populations that have shorter life cycles and robust larvae.Moreover, there is every possibility of gene transfer between populations thriving in close proximity and this could lead to changes in the physiology and life cycle durations which may further influence production procedures in commercial rearing units.Hence, detailed studies were carried out in the laboratory to study the possibility of improving breeding efficiency of locally available Medipalle population by crossing it with a distant Thrissur populations and understand the effects of cross mating on the progeny also.