Impact of Male and Female Body Size on Mating Performance and Reproductive Success in Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Abstract

Mating and Reproductive success is the most essential phase in establishing efficient maintenance to ensure a sustained supply of Black Soldier Fly/BSF populations. This study aims to ascertain the influence of mating partner body size on successful mating and reproduction in BSF. Adult males and females BSF of the same age (< 24 hours) were paired based on a combination of body size treatments (large, average, small). Semi-outdoor observations were conducted in 30x30x30 cm nylon net cages, with each treatment repeated three times. The observation parameters include mating frequency, oviposition frequency, egg number, egg weight, and egg viability or fertility. The differences in body size of mating partners significantly influence mating and reproductive success in BSF. The combination of a mating pair consisting of a large male and a large female had the highest frequency of mating (35.3 ± 4.64) and oviposition (28 ± 2.04), whereas mating pairs of a small male and a small female had a low mating frequency (13.7 ± 5.18) and lowest oviposition (5.0 ± 0.63). Mating tended to occur more frequently when males were matched with large females than when males were paired with average or small females.