Amendment of a thermophile-fermented compost to humus improves the growth of female larvae of the Hercules beetle, Dynastes hercules (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

Here, we showed the growth stimulation effect of a thermophile-fermented compost on the Hercules beetle, Dynastes hercules. During the 72-d-feeding experiment in the humus amended with a thermophile-fermented compost, the larvae growth, especially growth of female larvae was stimulated, suggesting that bacterial inhabitants in the compost have probiotic potential for the beetle larvae growth.