Insect-based ingredients are becoming widely accepted and utilized in both livestock feeds and pet foods. Insects are highly nutritious, palatable and sustainable. They are intentionally and opportunistically ingested by cats, dogs, poultry, swine, fish and other species including grazing livestock. The three most commonly used insect species as ingredients in animal feed and pet food are crickets (Acheta domesticus), larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, BSFL), and mealworms (Tenebrio molitor). As highlighted by Koutsos et al. (2022), there are numerous studies demonstrating the nutritional efficacy of insect ingredients, many of which have focused on BSFL. Recently, researchers have begun to explore specific properties of BSFL that may provide animal health benefits in addition to nutritional benefits. These properties include antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), chitin, and lauric acid.
