BSF Larvae Exoskeletons

Chitin, and especially its deacetylated variant chitosan, has many applications, e.g. as carrier material for pharmaceutical drugs, for wound dressing and in cosmetics, chitosan finds application in the production of creams and lotions. It is used as a moisturizing and UV-protective agent for the skin. Despite its versatility and accessibility, chitin, the second most abundant polysaccharide on Earth, has so far been commercially extracted only from crustaceans and to a minor extent from fungi. Insects are a viable alternative source of chitin, but they have not been exploited in the past due to limited availability. Today however, for the sustainable production of animal feed, insect farming is being developed substantially. The availability of large quantities of insect biomass and chitin-rich side products such as exuviae and exoskeletons has been increasing. Given the sustainability aspect and the expected rise in insect production, byproducts from insect farming present a very interesting source of chitin for the future.