NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Ericca Reynolds (reynoldse@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

8/27/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Northwestern State University's Department of Biological Sciences has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the J. Bennett Johnston Science Foundation. Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Michael Land and Phillip Kirk, a senior biology major from Many, are co-principal investigators for this project.

The grant will evaluate the black soldier fly as a method to eliminate poultry carcases and nutrient recapture for the millions of birds lost. Researchers will also seek an alternative use for the resulting larva as an added economic benefit to the poultry industry.

Land said the black soldier fly (BSF) is highly beneficial in this project because it has demonstrated the ability to reduce biomass by 90% producing pupa that are of significant nutritional value.

"The black soldier fly is native to the Americas and resembles a black wasp not much more than a housefly," said Kirk. "The BSF larva are such voracious feeders that the ordinary house fly is usually displaced."

The adults hide in vegetation and have a life span of two weeks and are rarely seen, Kirk said. During this time the BSF adult does not feed and has no working mouthparts. The adults live only to reproduce and then die.

According to Land, future projects will arise because of this project which will be of great benefit to Northwestern students, especially Kirk.

"Any additional work will be covered under Biology 4950 or an independent research class and our efforts will be supplemented from student laboratory fees," said Land. A journal article published by a student is just about a sure fire way to get into grad school, although he can easily get in on his own, this will put him at the top of the funding list," said Land.

The J. Bennett Johnston Science Foundation was founded by Johnston, who served Louisiana as a member of the U.S. Senate from 1972 until 1996. The Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in Louisiana by supporting scientific research that can be used in the policy making process. The Foundation's initial focus is on supporting environmental research. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to researchers who are interested in identifying problems and developing possible solutions.

For more information contact Land at (318) 357-5343.

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