EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DIETS ON SOME LARVAL BODY CHARACTERISTICS AND FOOD UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY OF TENEBRIO MOLITOR (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE)

Abstract

In the present study, nutritional composition and growth parameters of yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae were evaluated after 30 days of feeding using different food materials i.e. Wheat as (diet 1) , oats (diet 2) , chicken 21% (diet 3)-corn Stover (diet 4) , oats + wheat bran (diet 5) , oats + corn stover (diet 6) , oats + chicken feed 21% (diet 7) , wheat + corn stover (diet 8), wheat bran + chicken feed 21% (diet 9) , chicken feed 21% + corn stover (diet 10)-and the last diet is a mixture of the previous four ingredients (wheat bran + corn stover + chicken feed 21% + oats (diet 11). For growth parameters, yellow mealworm larvae fed on Wheat as (diet 1)-oats (diet 2)-chicken feed 21 % and mixture of them have the highest values in specific growth rate and feed conversion efficiency .Nutritional analysis showed significant differences of contents between tested diets; Where the analysis showed the highest percentage of protein and fat when the larvae fed Diet 3 and 1 On the other hand ,highest level of crude fiber occurred when larvae fed on corn Stover and wheat + corn stover. In general, yellow mealworm mass rearing using Wheat, oats, chicken feed 21 % and mixture of them showed a good result on growth rate and nutritional composition.