Table 5.
Application and effects of using the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) in the diets of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
| Fish Initial bwt (g) | Dietary Yellow Mealworm (T. molitor) | Effects | Recommended FM Replacement Level or Inclusion Doses | References | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worm Stage/Form | FM Replacement Levels or Dietary Inclusion Doses |
Duration (Days) | ||||
| ~5.23 | Larvae | 25% and 50% dietary inclusion | 60 | 25% YMW group = no adverse effects on WG 50% YMW group = growth reduction with less favorable effects on SGR and FI No differences in PER, FI, and whole-body composition |
25% dietary inclusion | Gasco, et al. [59] |
| ~5.22 | Full-fat larvae | 25% and 50% dietary inclusion | 70 | Negative effects on FBW, WG, SGR, and FI in the 50% YMW group No effects on CP and EE of body Higher ADCs of CP in the 25% YMW group |
25% dietary inclusion | Gasco, et al. [38] |
| ~65.3 | Full-fat larvae | 24.75% dietary inclusion (replacing 36% of FM) with or without exogenous proteases or carbohydrases | 42 | ↓ Serum ceruloplasmin, MPO, and NO levels in YMW with or without enzymes ↓ Serum bacteriolytic activity against Gram-negative bacteria in YMW with proteases No effects on serum LYZ ↓ Serum trypsin-inhibition in YMW groups with exogenous proteases |
Inclusion of 24.75% YMW in diets | Henry, et al. [25] |
| ~5.2 | Full-fat larvae | 50% of FM replaced | 70 | 598 OTUs belonging to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria 60% of OTUs absent in gut before FM replacement |
50% FM replacement | Antonopoulou, et al. [57] |
| ~55 | Defatted larvae | 40%, 80%, and 100% of FM replaced | 70 | No effect on plasma ACH50 and LYZ ↑ Plasma PO activity |
Up to 80% FM replacement | Basto, et al. [60] |
| ~33 | Defatted or full-fat larvae | 20% dietary inclusion | 12 | Compared to BSF groups, YMW groups characterized by the highest ADC of DM, CP, total EAAs, CL, GE, and phosphorus | 20% dietary inclusion | Basto, et al. [24] |
| ~5.7 | Whole larvae | 30% of FM replaced | 84 | No effects on SR%, VSI, HSI, SGR, FI, and RGL No effects on serum ALT, AST, and GDH ↓ Serum GLU, CHO, and TG levels |
30% FM replacement | Mastoraki, et al. [23] |
| ~10.7 | Larvae | 50% of FM replaced | 49 | No effects on FCR and PER ↓ SGR, FI, DGC, and WG No effects on proximate composition of fillets |
Lower than 50% FM replacement | Reyes, et al. [61] |
Abbreviations: ACH50: alternative complement pathway; ADCs: apparent digestibility coefficients; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; BSF: black solider fly; CHO: cholesterol; CL: crude lipids; CP: crude protein; DGC: daily growth coefficient; DHA: docosahexaenoic acid; DM: dry matter; EAAs: essential amino acids; EE: ether extract; EPA: eicosapentaenoic acid; FBW: final body weight; FCR: feed conversion ratio; FI: feed intake; FM: fish meal; GDH: glutamate dehydrogenase; GE: gross energy; GLU: glucose; HSI: hepatosomatic index; LA: linoleic acid; LYZ: lysozyme activity; MPO: myeloperoxidase; NO: nitric oxide; PER: protein efficiency ratio; PO: peroxidase activity; PUFA: polyunsaturated fatty acids; RGL: relative gut length; SGR: specific growth rate; WG: weight gain; YMW: yellow mealworm; ↑ = increase; ↓ = decrease.