FEEDING-BEHAVIOR AND GROWTH OF BROILER CHICKS FED LARVAE OF THE DARKLING BEETLE, ALPHITOBIUS-DIAPERINUS

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding larvae of the darkling beetle (lesser mealworm), Alphitobius diaperinus (Panz er) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to broiler chicks on chick growth. Chi cks readily fed on the larvae and exhibited reduced growth in the abse nce of other feed. Chicks 3 to 8 d old restricted to a diet of only la rvae consumed 1,552 +/- 172 (mean +/- SD) larvae per chick per day and their body weights were significantly less (mean = 84 g) at the end o f the 6 d than for chicks on starter feed during the same time. After return to starter feed for 8 d after feeding on larvae for 6 d, the ch icks did not compensate for the reduced weight and their body weights were significantly less (mean = 170 g) than for chicks on starter feed for the 14 d. Chicks from age 2 through 9 d were given a choice betwe en broiler starter feed and darkling beetle larvae. The numbers (mean +/- SD) of larvae consumed per chick per day were: 389 +/- 18, 631 +/- 14, 496 +/- 20, and 28 +/- 33, for Days 2 to 3, 4 to 5, 6 to 7, and 8 to 9, respectively. The body weight of chicks feeding on starter feed and larvae was significantly greater than the weight of chicks consum ing feed only. In the presence of larvae, the mean feed consumption pe r chick was less than for chicks provided with only starter feed. The beetle larvae were 68% crude protein and 21% fat (DM basis) and had hi gher amounts of 18 amino acids than the starter feed.