Reproductive Potential and Population Parameters of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Reared on Tofu Dreg

<b>Background and Objectives:</b> Black Soldier Fly (BSF), <i>Hermetia illucens</i> (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) has long been studied primarily in terms of their important role in organic waste management. This species has a special ability to digest a variety of organic matter, from vegetable waste, food waste, decaying animal tissues to livestock manure and then convert to nutritional biomass for animal feed. The different types of feed during the larval period will affect the life history of black soldier fly. This study was aimed to determine the development, survival, population parameters and reproductive potential of the BSF reared on tofu dreg by the age-stage, two-sex life table analysis. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The treatments of immature stages were constructed under laboratory conditions and the adult stage were reared at a semi-outdoors screenhouse with full sunlight. <b>Results:</b> The intrinsic rates of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproduction rate (R₀) and mean generation time (T) were 0.0713 per day, 1.0739 per day, 23.95 offspring and 43.705 days, respectively. The result indicated that the maximum reproductive value of females occurred at 42 days. The overall development time from egg to adult stage of the BSF was 52.2±1.6 days. <b>Conclusion:</b> The BSF can perform optimal development, survival rate and reproductive potential when reared on tofu dreg.