Black soldier fly bacterial community across developmental stages and different diet source

The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) was selected to evaluate the influence exerted by diet source and developmental stage on the associated bacterial community. The insects were reared at the facilities of the University of Milan, Italy, on three different diets (standard, fruit waste-derived and vegetable waste-derived diet) under controlled conditions (25°C, 60-65% R.H.). The selected specimens were collected during three life-stages (larval, prepupal and adult stage form). Microbiological analyses were performed on the insects after a surface sterilization procedure. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene was used to investigate the bacterial community associated to the gastrointestinal tract of this insect.