Abstract:
The larval antimicrobial components of the black soldier fly (BSF) are the key elements
allowing these larvae to inhibit bacterial growths in the wastes they are thriving in. To study
the antimicrobial effect of locally cultured BSF larvae, crude extracts were prepared using
methanol and phosphate buffered saline. The crude extracts were then inoculated on selected
bacterial and fungal culture plates using agar well diffusion assay to compare their
susceptibility. Two of the three bacterial cultures inoculated with methanol crude extract
exhibited significant (p < 0.05) inhibition in their growth, while those inoculated with PBS
extract didn’t show any observable inhibition. Both extracts were found not to exhibit
significant inhibition on fungi (p > 0.05). The control experiments using methanol alone and
PBS alone on the bacterial and fungal cultures also didn’t exhibit any significant inhibition
