Using of Tenebrio molitor larvae to study the toxicity of heavy metals

Center of Shared Scientific Equipment «Persistence of microorganisms», Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Orenburg Federal Research Center of the Ural Branch of the RAS, Orenburg, Russia

^* Corresponding author: zhos-rus@mail.ru

Abstract

Studies of environmental pollution by heavy metals associated with the outpouring of mine waters onto the soil surface and the flushing of heavy metal solutions into reservoirs from the dumps of copper ores are relevant for the mining regions of the Urals. The use of Tenebrio molitor larvae to study the “chronic” toxicity of water contaminated with heavy metals will contribute to the study of a longer-term temporary effect of exposure to heavy metals. Contamination of wheat bran contaminated with heavy metals and microscopic fungi contributed to a significant increase in larval biomass and a reduction in the metamorphosis periods of Tenebrio molitor beetle. Standardization of methods for biotesting the “chronic” toxicity of high concentrations of heavy metals in water and soil, using of Tenebrio molitor beetle, with a full cycle of transformation, is a promising area of research.