Article
Food Science & Technology
He Sun, Ornella Necochea Velazco, Catriona Lakemond, Matthijs Dekker, Lee Cadesky, Maryia Mishyna
Summary: The hydration behavior of processed lesser mealworm food ingredients was analyzed in this study, showing that mealworm protein concentrate had the strongest hydration capacity at 20 degrees C, while textured mealworm protein and tofu exhibited similar behavior at 5 degrees C. Browning and agglomeration of mealworm protein concentrate powder were observed at higher water activities.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Julie Engell Dahl, David Renault
Summary: This study aimed to uncover the biology of the invasive pest beetle Alphitobius diaperinus under dry conditions. It found that the species is highly desiccation resistant and can survive for a long time at low relative humidity. However, exposure to desiccation for 8 days significantly reduced the reproductive output of the beetles.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
N. Meijer, T. de Rijk, J. J. A. van Loon, M. W. Bosch, H. J. van der Fels-Klerx
Summary: This study investigated whether insecticides can bioaccumulate in lesser mealworms and affect their growth and survival. The results showed that the concentrations of insecticides in the mealworms were below the legal limits, indicating no bioaccumulation. However, spinosad and imidacloprid significantly reduced the total yield, raising concerns about the safety of organic produce for insect rearing.
JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Aurelie Ballon, Maria-Paz Romero, Luis E. Rodriguez-Saona, Silvia de Lamo-Castellvi, Carme Guell, Montserrat Ferrando
Summary: This study investigated the effects of conjugating lesser mealworm protein concentrate (LMPC) with chlorogenic acid (CA) or tannic acid (TA). It was found that TA had a higher affinity for LMPC compared to CA. The conjugation induced conformational changes and significantly improved the antioxidant properties. The conjugates also exhibited good stability as antioxidant emulsifiers in emulsions.
Article
Entomology
Ben C. Sammarco, Michael S. Crossley
Summary: Studying the responses of the arthropod pest Alphitobius diaperinus to environmental cues can improve trapping, monitoring, and control methods for its populations in experimental and commercial settings.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Sofronios Zafeiriadis, Maria K. Sakka, Christos G. Athanassiou
Summary: The study evaluated the efficacy of three contact insecticides against the lesser mealworm, showing that all three insecticides were effective with spinosad providing complete insect mortality after 14 days. The presence of food in the dishes decreased levels of delayed mortality, but none of the combinations tested reached 100% mortality.
JOURNAL OF STORED PRODUCTS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yifei Kang, Catherine C. Applegate, Fei He, Patricia M. Oba, Miranda D. Vieson, Lorena Sanchez-Sanchez, Kelly S. Swanson
Summary: This study found that protein from defatted yellow mealworm and whole lesser mealworm can reduce body weight, improve serum metabolites, and impact liver and adipose tissue histology and gene expression in obese mice. Mealworm-based diets also led to beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and antioxidant response, and reduced inflammation and apoptosis in adipose tissue.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Marina Gourgouta, Christos Rumbos, Vasilios Michail, Christos G. Athanassiou
Summary: Insects have emerged as a promising solution to the increasing demand for animal protein in the last decade. Their rearing sustainability improves greatly when organic side-streams and wastes are used as feed. This study evaluated various agricultural side-streams as feeding substrates for lesser mealworm larvae and found that several of them were suitable for supporting larval growth and development. These results contribute to the utilization of agricultural side-streams for rearing lesser mealworm larvae.
Article
Entomology
Ben C. Sammarco, Nancy C. Hinkle, Michael S. Crossley
Summary: Alphitobius diaperinus is a worldwide pest of poultry facilities, causing damage, injuring birds, and acting as a reservoir for avian pathogens. Research is needed to understand its economic impact, insecticide resistance mechanisms, and colonization patterns for effective pest management programs.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Entomology
David Renault, Herve Colinet
Summary: The study found evidence of resistance to pyrethroids in some populations of lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus in poultry farms in Brittany, France. Some populations exhibited clear signs of resistance to pyrethroids, with significantly longer recovery times compared to susceptible populations. This highlights the importance of monitoring and managing insecticide resistance in pest populations for effective pest control strategies.
Article
Microbiology
Tawni L. Crippen, Baneshwar Singh, Robin C. Anderson, Cynthia L. Sheffield
Summary: This study investigated the bacterial community profile of lesser mealworm larvae in broiler grow-out houses and pastureland. The results showed that the bacterial profile was relatively constant in the broiler house environment, but exhibited greater fluctuation in structure when the larvae were placed in pastureland. This has implications for assessing the impact of larval-associated microbes on plant growth and reducing the risk of foodborne pathogen transmission.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Konstantina Kotsou, Christos Rumbos, Georgia Baliota, Marina Gourgouta, Christos G. Athanassiou
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of various biotic and abiotic factors on the development of Alphitobius diaperinus larvae through laboratory bioassays. The results showed that temperature was crucial for larval development, with higher temperatures leading to better performance. On the other hand, relative humidity had minimal effect on larval growth, while an increase in yeast percentage in the diet resulted in enhanced larval growth, development, and survival.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Seyed Mohammad Taghi Gharibzahedi, Zeynep Altintas
Summary: Insect oil, a sustainable lipid source, has remarkable health effects. This study evaluated the effects of different organic solvents and their mixtures on the extraction yield and quality of lesser mealworm oils. The ethanol/isopropanol and ethanol/n-hexane mixtures showed the highest extraction efficiency and various beneficial components. These solvent mixtures also had lower peroxide value, free fatty acids, and atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices. The ethanol/isopropanol mixture is a promising solvent for industrial-scale extraction of insect oil.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Junjing Wang, Aurelie Ballon, Karin Schroen, Silvia de Lamo-Castellvi, Montserrat Ferrando, Carme Guell
Summary: The study found that lesser mealworm protein concentrate (LMPC) can effectively stabilize W-1/O/W-2 emulsions and encapsulate polyphenols in a low-energy membrane emulsification system, similar to whey protein and pea protein. LMPC shows good stability under different acidic and alkaline conditions, but is prone to droplet coalescence after freeze-thaw cycles.
Article
Zoology
Steven J. Rice, Michael J. Furlong
Summary: Topical applications of insecticides beta-cyfluthrin, imidacloprid, and spinosad in combination with Beauveria bassiana induced synergistic effects on lesser mealworm larvae, increasing mortality and conidiogenesis. The insecticides at reduced concentrations inhibited larval development and movement. Among them, beta-cyfluthrin exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on larval development and movement.
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cassie Sims, David M. Withall, Neil Oldham, Robert Stockman, Michael Birkett
Summary: This study employed computational methods to predict models for aphid ORs and investigated their binding interactions with aphid pheromones and other semiochemicals. The results suggest that specific binding sites may be more critical than kinetic data in understanding the olfactory activity of ligands and ORs.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Mirian F. F. Michereff, Izabela N. Nascimento, Gisele T. Santana, Andre L. F. Sarria, Miguel Borges, Raul A. Laumann, David M. Withall, John C. Caulfield, Michael A. Birkett, Maria Carolina Blassioli-Moraes
Summary: The study found that different Neotropical maize genotypes produce varying levels of benzoxazinoids, showing different responses to Spodoptera frugiperda herbivory. Spodoptera frugiperda is able to alter maize plant defense responses.
PHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Diego Martins Magalhaes, Mirian Fernandes Furtado Michereff, Adalecio Kovaleski, Beatriz Aguiar Giordano Paranhos, Dori Edson Nava, Miguel Borges, Raul Alberto Laumann, Maria Carolina Blassioli-Moraes
Summary: Fruit flies deposit a host-marking pheromone after oviposition to minimize overexploitation of hosts. In laboratory experiments, the faeces extract from mated female A. fraterculus was found to reduce fruit infestation by both conspecifics and heterospecifics. The faeces extract from mated female fruit flies contained higher amounts of specific compounds compared to that of mated males.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lincon Rafael da Silva, Leonardo Luis de Barros Rodrigues, Ana Beatriz Zacaroni, Bruna Sartorio de Castro, Daniel Nogoceke Sifuentes, Amanda Silva Botelho, Maria Carolina Blassioli Moraes, Sueli Correa Marques de Mello
Summary: Trichoderma strains play an important role in promoting plant growth and controlling diseases caused by soil fungi. This study analyzed the molecular ion alterations and volatile organic compounds emitted by Trichoderma strains, and found significant differences in their ability to inhibit fungal growth, parasitize sclerotia, and promote plant growth. The development of commercial products containing multiple strains is therefore necessary.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Ecology
M. Borges, M. F. F. Michereff, R. A. Laumann, G. T. Santana, B. S. Castro, C. C. Silva, M. C. Blassioli-Moraes
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of C. cajan plants as trap crops for D. melacanthus. The results showed that D. melacanthus females prefer to oviposit on C. cajan pods and are attracted by volatiles emitted by reproductive C. cajan plants. In addition, the offspring of D. melacanthus cannot survive on C. cajan pods.
ARTHROPOD-PLANT INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Izabela N. Nascimento, Mirian F. F. Michereff, Walter E. Pereira, Paulino R. Villas-Boas, Marcos Rafael Gusmao, John Caufield, Raul A. Laumann, Miguel Borges, Maria Carolina Blassioli-Moraes
Summary: Plants respond to herbivore injury by emitting specific volatiles that attract the enemies of herbivores. This study evaluated whether maize plants can recognize damage from a stink bug and found that while the stink bug does not use plant volatiles as host location cues, feeding by the stink bug activates maize indirect defense, inducing emission of attractant volatiles for the herbivore's enemy.
ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Jennifer O. Ferreira, Christian S. A. Silva-Torres, Enggel B. S. Carmo, Raul A. Laumann, Miguel Borges, Maria Carolina Blassioli-Moraes
Summary: This study investigates the effects of conspecific and heterospecific encounters on development, reproduction, and predation in two ladybeetle species. The results show that conspecific contacts increase reproduction in T. notata, while both conspecific and heterospecific contacts prolong development time in C. montrouzieri. Furthermore, both species exhibit changes in predatory behavior when exposed to conspecific or heterospecific individuals.
JOURNAL OF INSECT BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Lincon Rafael da Silva, Leonardo Luis de Barros Rodrigues, Amanda Silva Botelho, Bruna Sartorio de Castro, Paulo Henrique Pereira Costa Muniz, Maria Carolina Blassioli Moraes, Sueli Correa Marques de Mello
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by Trichoderma azevedoi CEN1241 in different growth periods on the severity of white mold in common bean. Chemical analysis revealed that T. azevedoi CEN1241 produced 37 VOCs, which were shown to be related to the ability of the biocontrol agent to suppress Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The results demonstrated that T. azevedoi CEN1241 VOCs reduced the size of S. sclerotiorum lesions in vitro and decreased disease severity in a greenhouse, indicating the potential of volatile compounds as a control strategy for white mold in bean plants.
PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Jennifer Oberger Ferreira, Christian Sherley Araujo da Silva Torres, Enggel Beatriz Silva Carmo, Gessica dos Santos Silva, Raul Alberto Laumann, Miguel Borges, Maria Carolina Blassioli Moraes
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of footprints of Tenuisvalvae notata and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri lady beetles on their own and each other's foraging behavior and predatory potential. The results showed that both species can recognize each other's footprints and have different reactions to them. Chemical analysis revealed that the composition of footprint extracts is species- and sex-specific. This is the first report on the effects of footprints on the behavior of these species.
ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cassie Sims, Michael A. Birkett, Neil J. Oldham, Robert A. Stockman, David M. Withall
Summary: This study investigated the binding of aphid pheromones and OBPs in the pea aphid. The results showed that ApisOBP6 was able to bind the sex pheromone components and discriminate from the alarm pheromone and a plant compound. These findings provide insights into pre-receptor odorant discrimination and potential functions of aphid olfactory proteins.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Liesbet Wilberts, Jozsef Vuts, John C. Caulfield, Gareth Thomas, David M. Withall, Felix Wackers, Michael A. Birkett, Hans Jacquemyn, Bart Lievens
Summary: This study found that inoculating sweet pepper plants with entomopathogenic fungus can alter the behavior of parasitoid wasps, accelerating their localization of aphids and thus improving biocontrol efficacy.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
