Crossing thermal boundaries: Quantifying the impact of sublethal heat stress on growth in black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens)

By integrating the biological principles underlying both the thermal performance curve (TPC) and the thermal death time (TDT) model, we develop a quantitative model to investigate sublethal heat stress in ectothermic organisms. Heat injury is induced in the stressful temperature range (as described by the TDT model) and is subsequently monitored at a fixed point within a permissive temperature range, corresponding to the TPC optimum (TPCopt), with assessments based on impaired growth and increased mortality.