Project properties
Title <B><i>Hermetia illucens</i> (Black soldier fly) behaviour </B>: Adult behaviour in response to diet stress
Group Entomology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) Yvonne Kortsmit, Prof. Dr. Joop van Loon
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Marcel Dicke
Contact info yvonne.kortsmit@wur.nl
Begin date 2022/02/13
End date 2023/12/31
Description This project is part of the INSECTFEED consortium (www.insectfeed.nl). This consortium is aiming for a sustainable and circular approach to the poultry feed industry. Insects such as BSF can convert low quality waste streams into high quality protein usable for feed.
The increasing use of insects in mass production systems raises the debate about insect welfare. To insure good welfare and health in BSF rearing systems, knowledge about behaviour and behavioural responses to relevant stress factors is needed. At the moment, very little is known about BSF behaviour.

This research will focus on behavioural responses in mating and flight behaviour of adult BSF when reared under or exposed to different diets.
This project is focused on extracting behavioural data out of pre-recorded experimental videos.
Used skills video observations and editing, data-analysis, scientific writing.
Requirements For doing a BSc-thesis at Entomology, there are no requirements for specific courses.
For doing a MSc-thesis or internship at Entomology, the following requirements apply: ENT-30806 + a second ENT-course (preferably ENT-30306 or ENT-50806 or ENT-53806). As an alternative for the second ENT-course, PHP-30806 or BHE-30306 can be selected.
Note: these requirements do not apply for MBI students; MBI students should check the requirements for doing an ENT MSc-thesis or internship in the study programme of their specialisation.