Presentation Details
| Effects of Sex, Age, & Feeding Status on Adult Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Thermal Preference Anastasiya O Ivanchenko, Samuel O Durosaro , Meghan Barrett. Department of Biology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
Abstract
Many insects facing starvation reduce metabolic rates by preferentially moving to cooler microclimates to improve longevity. Black soldier fly (BSF) adults are reared as livestock and are generally unfed despite food increasing longevity and egg lay, suggesting they face chronic starvation. BSF adults are known to have reduced thermal preference as they age, perhaps a result of chronic starvation. We hypothesized that nutritional availability would alter thermal preference behaviors in BSF as they age. We predicted that aging would lower thermal preference, but it would reduce faster and to a greater degree when starved instead of provided with ad libitum feed access. Using a previously-established temperature gradient method, male and female preference was assessed on day 0, 5, 8, and 15 in fed or starved conditions. Contrary to our hypothesis, sex and age, but not feeding status, impacted thermoregulatory behaviors. Females had increased mean thermal preferences; and thermal preference significantly declined with age from 29 C to 21 C. These results suggest that age, but not chronic starvation, alters the thermal preference of adult BSF.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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