Utilização da farinha integral de mosca-soldado-negra (Hermetia illucens, L., Diptera: Stratiomyidae) para suplementação de abelhas uruçu (Melipona scutellaris)

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of hives of the species Uruçu Nordestina (Mellipona scutellaris) through their gross weight when using whole black soldier fly larva flour (Hermetia illucens) in their supplementary feeding during the period of 43 days with weekly weighings. This work combines the sustainable proposal with what is already concretely known in the literature regarding the use of black soldier fly insect flour, through a high concentration of crude protein (CP) and other nutrients (lipids, 18%, and protein content gross, varying between 42% and 75%,) applied in the supplementation of Uruçu Nordestina (M. scutellaris). The aim is to mitigate the impact of the decline in its beekeeping pasture in dry seasons, negatively influenced by the scarcity of its native flora, of which only 12.4% of the original remains. The experiment was carried out with 9 colonies arranged in northeastern boxes and subjected to 3 treatments (T1, T2, T3) with increasing levels of BSF protein, in the proportion of (14%, 28% and 42%) respectively. The Supplement was composed of corn bran, Apis mellifera honey (50%) and whole wheat flour (BSF) (50%), supplied “in natura” in a homogeneous and pasty mass; weighing (30g) each treatment. There was an increase in the consumption of diets and the weight of colonies supplemented with wholemeal BSF flour in the weekly collection of experimental data.; gradually. However, there was no statistical difference between treatments) in the weight analysis (p=0.4415) and in the consumption analysis (p=0.1115), upon completion of the data.