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Edible insects have a low environmental impact but are rich in nutrients and have been promoted as alternative protein sources. However, adding insect flour to bread negatively affects the overall quality, especially loaf volume and textural properties. Furthermore, relevant studies on chitin are limited. Therefore, this study examined chitin hydrolysis using lysozymes to enhance the quality characteristics in defatted mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor L.) powder (DF-M)-supplemented bread. The chitin hydrolysis degree by lysozymes was evaluated using the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid assay and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The amount of chitin oligomers increased with time, and no significant difference in the hydrolysis efficiency between water and 400 mM acetate buffer was observed. Enzymatic hydrolysis improved the DF-M water- and oil-binding and antioxidant capacities. In addition, chitin hydrolysis increased the volume and softened the texture of white bread. In particular, bread supplemented with DF-M hydrolyzed for 4 h at 10 % had the highest moisture content among the mealworm-added bread groups during storage for 5 days. Moreover, sensory evaluation showed a positive effect of chitin hydrolysis on acceptability. Our findings indicate that chitin hydrolysis can improve the quality of bread containing insect additives. In conclusion, this study provides novel insights into producing high-quality and functional bakery products from edible insects by the enzymatic hydrolysis of edible insect powders and could expand the applications of edible insects as food ingredients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

With the expansion of industrial poultry, Alphitobius diaperinus represents one of the main pests of modern for poultry production in the world. Numerous losses stand out, such as: reduction in weight gain and transmission of pathogens among birds.. Sanitary control measures with correct handling of the substrate used as litter and treatment of facilities have been researched and applied. In search of a new alternative for the control of A. diaperinus, in this study, the action of Spinosad, synthesis of the aerobic fermentation of an actinomycete fungus present in the soil, Sacharopolyspora spinosa, was evaluated. For this purpose, two "in vitro" experiments were conducted, the first using direct treatment of the coleoptera in petri dishes and the second, under simulated conditions of "poultry litter" using the rice husk. Petri dish studies revealed 99.67% and 99.33% efficacy percentages for adult control (24DPT), as well as 97.0% and 96.0% for larvae control (24° Days post-treatment-DPT) respectively for treatment with Spinosad in concentrations of 400ppm and 250ppm. The application of 250 ppm Spinosad in the rice husk resulted in higher efficacy percentages (74.39%, 76.92% and 77.82% in the 16°DPT, 23°DPT and 30°DPT, respectively) when compared to the 400ppm treatment (68.51 %, 68.18% and 70.55% in the 16th PDT, 23rd PDT and 30th PDT, respectively), although no statistically significant difference was observed between these findings (P> 0.05). Therefore, it was observed that Spinosad in concentrations of 400ppm and 250ppm, via spray, showed efficacy when applied directly on A. diaperinus (adults and larvae) or dispersed in parasitized rice husks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are part of the diet of over 2 billion people worldwide; however, insects have not been popular in Europe, neither as food nor as a feed ingredient. This has been changing in recent years, due to increased knowledge regarding the nutritional benefits, the need for novel protein production and the low environmental impact of insects compared to conventional protein production. The purpose of this study is to give an overview of the most popular insects farmed in Europe, yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, and black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, together with the main obstacles and risks. A comprehensive literature study was carried out and 27 insect farming companies found listed in Europe were contacted directly. The results show that the insect farming industry is increasing in Europe, and the success of the frontrunners is based on large investments in technology, automation and economy of scale. The interest of venture capital firms is noticeable, covering 90% of the investment costs in some cases. It is concluded that insect farming in Europe is likely to expand rapidly in the coming years, offering new proteins and other valuable products, not only as a feed ingredient, but also for human consumption. European regulations have additionally been rapidly changing, with more freedom towards insects as food and feed. There is an increased knowledge regarding safety concerns of edible insects, and the results indicate that edible insects pose a smaller risk for zoonotic diseases than livestock. However, knowledge regarding risk posed by edible insects is still lacking, but food and feed safety is essential to put products on the European market.

Looking for new, sustainable ways to utilize plastics is still a very pertinent topic considering the amount of plastics produced in the world. One of the newest and intriguing possibility is the use of insects in biodegradation of plastics, which can be named entomoremediation. The aim of this work was to demonstrate the ability of the insect Tenebrio molitor to biodegrade different, real plastic waste. The types of plastic waste used were: remains of thermal building insulation polystyrene foam (PS), two types of polyurethane (kitchen sponge as PU1 and commercial thermal insulation foam as PU2), and polyethylene foam (PE), which has been used as packaging material. After 58 days, the efficiency of mass reduction for all of the investigated plastics was 46.5%, 41.0%, 53.2%, and 69.7% for PS, PU1, PU2, and PE, respectively (with a dose of 0.0052 g of each plastic per 1 mealworm larvae). Both larvae and imago were active plastic eaters. However, in order to shorten the duration of the experiment and increase the specific consumption rate, the two forms of the insect should not be combined together in one container.

Diabetes prevalence has been rapidly increasing worldwide, and there is a need for searching natural compounds to prevent and treat it. Bioactive peptides denved from insect protein would be an interesting sustainable option. However, the potential of insects such as mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) as source for antidiabetic peptides has not been widely studied. In this work, the influence of ultrasound and the sequential hydrolysis with subtilisin and trypsin hydrolysis were analysed for the release ovglucosidase inhibitory peptides. Short time of ultrasound improved the following releasing of bioactive peptides but longer ultrasound treatment time limited their production. Subtilisin hydrolysis did not allow the release of α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides, but it is needed to cleave the protein before trypsin releases these peptides. These high-bioactive hydrolysates could be used as ingredient regulating the glycaemic index in food formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow mealworm is an alternative protein source studied by researchers to provide an alternative supply of protein to meet the growing demands of human consumption. In this research, convective baking of yellow mealworms at 80°C, 100°C, and 120°C was carried out to study the baking kinetics and product quality. Studies showed the typical falling trend of the moisture ratio curves, which are typical for most bioproducts that undergo hot air treatment. Mathematical modelling showed that the Page model gave a good prediction on the baking kinetics with high fitting accuracy (R²>0.99). Effective diffusivities were determined from 1.66 x 10-11 to 2.88 x 10-11 m²/s within the temperatures tested. The activation energy was estimated at 15.7 kJ/mol based on the Arrhenius equation. The final baked samples appeared darker in color because the browning reaction and reduction in bulk density and product length were observed in the range of 48-54% and 3.0-16.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of combined feeding Black Sea trout (Salmo trutta labrax) broodstock with commercial feed and mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) for 50 days before the breeding period in order to evaluate the gamete quality. While the control group was fed with commercial feed, mealworm larvae were given as an additional protein source 2 days a week and 3 days a week to the experimental groups formed from female and male individuals. In addition to the growth parameters, the number of eggs (number/individual) and the egg diameter (mm), sperm volume (ml), density of spermatozoa (×109 cell/ml), total motility (%), progressive motility (%) and average curvilinear velocity (VCL, µm/sec) values were determined. At the end of the study, the highest live weight gain was found as 46.2 g in the control group of male. The egg diameters were 4.3 ± 1.8 mm and 4.5 ± 1.4 mm in the worm treatment groups fed twice and three times with mealworm respectively. As a result, it was determined that feeding fish with mealworm larvae as an addition to the commercial diet in female individuals did not affect the amount of eggs (p >.05), but the egg diameters were significantly smaller in the control group than the mealworm groups (p <.05). In spermatological characteristics, only the amount of sperm was different between the groups (p <.05); all other parameters were found to be similar to each other with no statistical differences (p >.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effect of peptides derived from defatted mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larvae) and to determine the expression level of obesity-related membrane-associated proteins in the rat muscle. The production of functional peptide was produced by hydrolysis of mealworm protein using commercial enzymes. To evaluate anti-obesity effects through animal feeding experiments, a total of thirty-two rats were randomly divided into control diet (CD), 5% mealworm peptide supplemented control diet (CT), high-fat diet (HD), and 5% mealworm peptide supplemented high-fat diet group (HT). The weight loss of HT was confirmed by mealworm peptides feeding. The weights of fat tissues (perirenal and epididymal) of HT were significantly decreased, however, soleus muscle weight of HT was significantly increased compared to those of the HD, respectively. The expression levels of obesity-related membrane-associated proteins (FABPpm, PGC-1α, and PPAR) in HT group involved in fatty acid transport and utilization were significantly higher than that of the HD. From these results, mealworm peptide supplement showed an anti-obesity effect by stimulation of FABPpm, PGC-1α, and PPAR-δ in skeletal muscle and then showed an increase in muscle weight along with body weight loss in HT group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) exuviae (ME) given as a prebiotic in 20% of the diet fed to BALB/c mice. Analysis of the ME revealed that it was mostly composed of crude protein (52.94%), crude fiber (10.70%), and moisture (10.54%). When ME was fed to mice for 8 weeks, the number of intestinal lactic acid bacteria increased, reaching similar numbers (4.50 ± 0.80 CFU/mL) to those (4.70 ± 0.80 CFU/mL) of the control group not fed ME. Microbiome analysis showed that 8 weeks feeding of ME promoted the growth of Bifidobacteriaceae and Lactobacillaceae compared to the POS group, indicating the positive effects of feeding 20% ME on the intestinal microbiota of mice. These results suggest that ME can be considered as a dietary prebiotics to improve human gut microbial population, but further application study to human is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of insect full-fat meals (Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio larvae), added “on top” of a complete diet or calculated into diets, on the growth performance, selected blood, and immune system traits of broiler chickens. 1,000 one-day-old female Ross 308 broiler chicks were used in 2 independent experiments. In the first trial, the birds were randomly assigned to 6 treatments, 10 replicate pens per treatment, and 10 birds per pen, i.e., negative control; positive control with salinomycin addition (60 mg/kg diet), and addition of 0.2% and 0.3% of T. molitor and Z. morio full-fat meals “on top". In the second experiment, 4 treatments, 10 replicate pens per treatment, and 10 birds per pen were set, i.e., negative control, positive control with salinomycin addition (60 mg/kg diet), and 0.3% of T. molitor and Z. morio full-fat meals calculated in the diets. In both trials the supplementation of insects increased the BWG (Exp. 1: P = 0.024; Exp. 2: P = 0.046) and FI (Exp. 1: P = 0.022; Exp. 2: P = 0.026), and no negative effect on the FCR was recorded in experiment one (P = 0.514), however in second trial insects addition increased FCR values (P = 0.011). In addition, in the first trial, groups fed insects and PC comparing to NC decreased the IgY (P = 0.045) and IgM, (P < 0.001) levels. In the second experiment, IgM levels were also decreased (P < 0.001) in groups fed insects comparing to NC. Moreover, in first trial the IgM levels were negatively correlated to the BWG (r = –0.4845) and FI (r = –0.4986), with statistically significant values (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the current results confirmed that small amount addition (0.2% and 0.3%) of T. molitor and Z. morio full-fat meals to the diet of broiler chickens can improve growth performance and change selected the immune system traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was aimed to evaluate chemical composition, in vitro rumen fermentation, digestibility and methane emissions of some insects, i.e. Jamaican field cricket (JFC), mealworm (MW) and black soldier fly larvae age 1 and 2 weeks (BSF1 and BSF2). Insect samples were oven-dried at 60oC for 24 h, and ground to pass a 1 mm sieve. The ground samples were used subsequently for chemical composition determination and in vitro rumen fermentation test. Incubation was carried out in a water bath maintained at 39 ºC for 48 h in three replicates. Results revealed that all insect meals contained high crude protein, i.e. above 40% DM. Proportions of neutral detergent insoluble CP (NDICP) and neutral detergent insoluble CP (ADICP) were high in the insect meals than that of soybean meal (SBM), and these were particularly very high in BSF2. All insect meals had lower IVDMD and IVOMD than that of SBM (P

The yellow mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera Tenebrionidae) is an important stored products pest, although its larvae are also one of the most promising for food and feed. Although T. molitor has been widely investigated, there remains a lack of information about the sensory structures on maxillary and labial palps. Here, it was investigated the external morphology and distribution pattern of the sensilla on mouthpart palps of T. molitor larvae using scanning electron microscopy. In T. molitor, the maxillary palp has three segments, whereas the labial palp has two segments. Based on the morphology of the features of the sensilla on the apical articles of both the maxillary and labial palps, we classified them into nine types: sensilla trichoidea types 1 and 2, sensilla digitiformia, sensilla chaetica, sensilla coeloconica, sensilla basiconica types 1 and 2, sensilla styloconica types 1 and 2. A total of 23 sensilla on maxillary palps and 13 sensilla on labial palps were found. In particular, the sensilla basiconica form the sensory complex located on the tip of each palp. In T. molitor, the numbers of sensilla present on the sensory complexes do not differ between maxillary and labial palps, as 13 units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, edible insects represent a hot topic as an emerging and eco-friendly source of protein. The mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) is among the most employed insects for human consumption and feed purposes. So far Listeria monocytogenes , have never been detected either in products sold on the market or during the rearing process. In this study, the substrate employed for mealworm rearing was deliberately contaminated with L. monocytogenes and the bacterium was enumerated during the rearing period and after technological treatments of the larvae. L. monocytogenes persisted during the rearing period. Washing the larvae did not produce any significant effect, while fasting the larvae for 24 or 48 h reduced the L. monocytogenes load (P < 0.001). Oven cooking eliminated L. monocytogenes cells from the product, reducing the risk associated to this foodborne pathogen to zero. • Larvae were reared in contaminated substrate and technological treatments were tested. • Listeria monocytogenes persisted in the substrate without affecting larvae viability. • Listeria monocytogenes amount was affected by larvae fasting and cooking. • No effect was shown by the larvae washing treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To confirm the applicability of Tenebrio molitor larvae as meat analogs using three-dimensional printing, the deformation rate after 3D printing and texture profile analysis (TPA) after post-processing (steaming) of 3D printing inks composed of 18% soy protein isolate (SPI) and T. molitor larval fractions (filtrate, supernatant, and pellet) were evaluated. When 15% pellet was included, the lowest deformation was 0.04% due to the structural support and easy extrusion due to the increase of the storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G"), and loss tangent (tan δ) and uniform network structure. In addition, the sample containing 15% pellets had the highest hardness (83.57 N) and chewability (55.97 N) after post-processing due to the high protein content in the pellets and the presence of myofibrillar proteins and dense internal structure. This study provides guidelines for improving the printability and texture effects through the supplementation of SPI-based inks with T. molitor larval fractions. • Pellet enhances printability and reduces deformation in 3D-printed meat analogs. • Including 15% pellet in ink formulation improves printability. • T. molitor larval fractions contribute to increased hardness and chewiness. • Pellet show promise for enhancing the printability and texture as meat analogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous extracts obtained from the larvae of Tenebrio molitor ("mealworms") have been used as sole emulsifiers for oil–in–water emulsions. For an oil volume fraction of 0.2, they produced coalescence-stable droplets of a few μm at a minimal concentration of 1 g dL−1 and flocculated systems at higher concentrations. Size exclusion chromatography showed that the extracts consist of a polysaccharidic and a proteinic macromolecular population, and of smaller molecules; SDS-displacement experiments showed that proteins are found to be the main component that adsorbs and stabilizes the oil–in–water interfaces. This is verified by interfacial measurement experiments. Removal of the smaller molecules produced efficient emulsifiers without flocculation, suggesting that the latter is due to electrostatic phenomena, rather than depletion. The zeta potential of this purified extract was very sensitive to pH changes between 6 and 7, allowing for specialized/pH-sensitive uses. The results suggest that mealworm extracts show potential as emulsifiers without the need of further purification (e.g. protein isolation), and can lead to high added-value products, while avoiding the consumers' subconscious connection of these ingredients to their original sources. [Display omitted] • Mealworm extracts are efficient emulsifiers for n-hexadecane-in-water emulsions. • The proteins of the extracts are responsible for the emulsification capacity. • No elaborate purification is needed for the extracts to act as emulsifiers. • The zeta potential of the extracts is lower than −20 mV in absolute value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible insects are gaining attention as a novel food; however, studies with their use in food are still limited. This study aimed to determine the chemical composition, physical parameters, sensory acceptance, and biological properties of muffins enriched with different levels of cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus) and mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) flours. The approximate composition was analyzed, along with the physical and textural properties, color, and consumer acceptance. Moreover, the antioxidant properties, starch digestibility, and glycemic index were determined in vitro. As we expected, the protein content in muffins supplemented with insect flour increased, while the carbohydrates content decreased. Moreover, the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity against ABTS·+ and DPPH· increased correspondingly as the percentage of insect flour in the muffins increased. The estimated glycemic index was lower for the fortified muffins than the control (p < 0.05). Additionally, enriched muffins were accepted by consumers, and their taste positively surprised respondents (p < 0.05). Therefore, the results obtained are satisfactory as regards the use of insects for the supplementation of traditional products, and further research into the addition of insects to other nutrient matrices is needed. Furthermore, examining the effect of insect addition on in vivo food biological activity is highly desirable.

When using DRC-1339 Concentrate, applicators have sometimes found that blackbirds will not feed on standard grain baits. While the search for more attractive baits has generally focused on alternate grains, fruits, and occasionally processed foods, a first-rate candidate may be insects. To our knowledge, no feeding tests using red-winged blackbirds have been conducted to measure consumption rates among various commercially available insects. Our results indicated that large-sized mealworms were the best bait for red-winged blackbirds during fall, whereas crickets were favored over small-sized meal¬worms and waxworms in summer. We speculate that choice was based to some extent on the quantity of fat available among the different foods. We plan to conduct similar feeding trials with European starlings.

Before insects can be used widely as an alternative source of dietary protein, their allerginicity should be investigated. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the potential adverse reactions of the immune system of dogs against Tenebrio molitor proteins. Dogs sensitised to storage mites T. putrescentiae and A. siro were included. Clinically healthy and clinically allergic dogs were compared. Proteins were extracted from mealworm larvae and their digestibility determined by in vitro incubation with digestive proteases. Mealworm protein extracts and digests were analysed by SDS–PAGE. Canine sera tested for the presence of mite-specific IgEs were used for subsequent Western blotting. LC-MS/MS analysis was used to identify mealworm proteins and their allergenic potential was predicted with the AllermatchTM tool. The binding of canine sera IgEs to mealworm proteins was confirmed; however, the differences between the two groups of dogs were not significant. Moreover, no clear correlation was found between sensitisation to storage mites and clinical status of the dogs. Altogether, 17 different proteins were identified, including tropomyosin, α-amylase, and Tm-E1a cuticular protein that are known cross-reacting IgE-binding allergens. Our results suggest that dogs allergic to mites may clinically express also the cross-reactivity with mealworm proteins.

Polystyrene (PS) is one of the major plastics contributing to environmental pollution with its durability and resistance to natural biodegradation. Recent research showed that mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and superworms (Zophobas morio) are naturally able to consume PS as a carbon food source and degrade them without observable toxic effects. In this study, we explored the effects of possible food additives and use of worm frass as potential plant fertilizers. We found that small amounts of sucrose and bran increased PS consumption and that the worm frass alone could support dragon fruit cacti (Hylocereus undatus) growth, with superworm frass in particular, supporting better growth and rooting than mealworm frass and control media over a fortnight. As known fish and poultry feed, these findings present worms as a natural solution to simultaneously tackle both the global plastic problem and urban farming issue in a zero-waste sustainable bioremediation cycle.

Edible insect is appraised by many cultures as delicious and nutritionally beneficial food. In western countries this commodity is not fully appreciated, and the worries about edible insect food safety prevail. Electronic noses can become a simple and cheap way of securing the health safety of food, and they can also become a tool for evaluating the quality of certain commodities. This research is a pilot project of using an electronic nose in edible insect culinary treatment, and this manuscript describes the phases of edible insect culinary treatment and methods of distinguishing mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and giant mealworm (Zophobas morio) using simple electronic nose. These species were measured in the live stage, after killing with boiling water, after drying and after inserting into the chocolate.The sensing device was based on the Arduino Mega platform with the ability to store the recorded data on the SD memory card, and with the possibility to communicate via internet. Data analysis shows that even a simple, cheap and portable electronic nose can distinguish between the different steps of culinary treatment (native samples, dried samples, samples enriched with chocolate for cooking) and selected species. Another benefit of the electronic nose could be its future introduction into the control mechanisms of food security systems (e.g. HACCP).

Edible insect can be a valuable source of nutrients, but also a potential source of heavy metals. Quick detection of over-limit heavy metals concentration could be a key to processing and quick distribution of edible insect products. The aim of this work was to evaluate the feed-dependent content of heavy metals in the mealworm and superworm using the X-ray fluorescence spectrometry as an easy, cheap and a timeless screening method for evaluating the content of heavy metals and microelements. Using a handheld analyser the content of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn were detected. Both analysed species proved dependency of metal content on a feed. Detected level of Cu in mealworm was between 571 mg.kg-1 and 1768 mg.kg-1 and in superworm from 571 mg.kg-1 to 1768 mg.kg-1 based on the feed. The content of Zn was similar, between 725 mg.kg-1 and 1437 mg.kg-1 in mealworm and 555-1482 mg.kg-1 in superworm. The level of Pb was below the detection limit in all samples, thus from this point of view this food seems to be safe. On the contrary, the content of Cd in the dry matter samples was above the food limit - 147 mg.kg-1 to 230 mg.kg-1. From this point of view, the samples were evaluated as unsuitable for consuming.

The work focuses on some aspects of content and properties of the fat in mealworm as a novel food. The total fat content of this species is a markedly variable nutritional value that is significantly dependent on the breeding conditions. In this work, the fat content of a mealworm from various Czech suppliers ranged from 202 g.kg-1 to 282 g.kg-1 dry matter, determined using the Soxhlet extraction method. The total average value from all suppliers was 235.8 ±40.8 g.kg-1. This is a range that can be expected by the customer when buying mealworm larvae from a random Czech supplier. Furthermore, the work graphically compares the values of the total fat content with other comparable commodities of animal origin, e.g. chicken or fish. Finally, the aim was to obtain initial information about the comparison of the sensory properties of the mealworm fat with other fats of animal origin using a simple electronic nose. There was a difference between the fat obtained from insect larvae and the conventional unprocessed fats. This work brings a wider view of fat as a taste carrier in a new food - a mealworm.

This study reveals that Tenebrio molitor larvae are fed with two different feeds i.e., barley bran along with Styrofoam, and barley bran without Styrofoam, the survival percentage of mealworms shows 86 and 89%, respectively. Five isolates namely S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 were isolated from the gut of Styrofoam-feeding Tenebrio molitor larvae and tested for Hydrophobicity percentage, clear zone assay and turbidity measurement. S1 isolate showed best (turbidity percentage of 19.65%, 13.54% hydrophobicity percentage, and 37% zone of clearance) when compared to other isolates, respectively. 16S rRNA characterization of S1 isolate revealed that the isolate belongs to Priestia megaterium S1(ON024787). Biodegradation of PE and PS beads by Priestia megaterium S1 makes physical and structural changes over 180 days, after microbial adhesion to the beads. Growth parameters have shown that the Priestia megaterium S1 thrives more effectively in the pH (6.5), temperature (28 °C) and at 1.5% LDPE/HDPE/PS concentration there is maximum utilization of carbon and a high percentage survival rate. Significant colonization of the isolate after 30 days over beads of LDPE (52.47%), HDPE (49.26%), and PS (48.11%), respectively. Experimental data revealed that Priestia megaterium S1 have PE and PS beads degradation capacity, proven by weight loss studies, at 6th-month percentage weight loss of LDPE (36.1%), HDPE (31.9%), and PS (28.6%), the percentage loss of carbon and hydrogen shows higher when compared to control. One month Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) showed that LDPE (7.4 mg/l), HDPE (7.2 mg/l), PS (6.7 mg/l), and simultaneous studies on CO 2 evolution over LDPE treatment is 5.05 g/l, HDPE (4.26 g/l), and PS (3.91 g/l), respectively. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) prove the occurrence of biodegradation on the surface of beads. This work highlights that Priestia megaterium S1 plays a vital role in effectively degrading PE and PS beads., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) is a classic edible insect with high nutritional value for substituting meats from vertebrates. While interest in mealworms has increased, the determination of carbohydrate constituents of mealworms has been overlooked. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the carbohydrate content and composition of mealworms. In addition, the characteristics of mealworm chitin were determined as these were the major components of mealworm carbohydrate. The crude carbohydrate content of mealworms was 11.5%, but the total soluble sugar content was only 30% of the total carbohydrate content, and fructose was identified as the most abundant free sugar in mealworms. Chitin derivatives were the key components of mealworm carbohydrate with a yield of 4.7%. In the scanning electron microscopy images, a lamellar structure with α-chitin configuration was observed, and mealworm chitosan showed multiple pores on its surface. The overall physical characteristics of mealworm chitin and chitosan were similar to those of the commercial products derived from crustaceans. However, mealworm chitin showed a significantly softer texture than crustacean chitin with superior anti-inflammatory effects. Hence, mealworm chitin and chitosan could be employed as novel resources with unique advantages in industries.

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larva) are an edible insect and a protein-rich food; however, research on mealworms as a substitute protein is insufficient. In this study, mealworm fermentation extract (TMP) was assessed as a replacement for soy protein (SP) in a control diet (CON) or a high-fat diet (HFD) of mice for 12 weeks. TMP substitution reduced body weight, body weight gain, body fat mass (perirenal and mesenteric), fat size, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance compared to the HFD-SP group. TMP alleviated hepatic steatosis (lipid contents and lipid droplets) in high-fat-fed mice and down-regulated the PPARγ, CD36, and DGAT2 gene levels. Proteomic analysis showed that a HFD for 12 weeks up-regulated 20 proteins and down-regulated 17 proteins in mice fed SP. On the other hand, TMP reversed the protein profiles. TMP significantly down-regulated KHK, GLO1, ATP5H, SOD, and DDAH1 and up-regulated DLD, Mup1, CPS1, Ces3b, PDI, and HYOU1 compared to the HFD-SP group. These proteins are involved in the glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, as well as in oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Thus, substituting SP for TMP helped improve HFD-induced obesity, steatosis, and insulin resistance in mice. These results suggest that TMP is a potential substitute for commonly used protein sources.

Performance and carcass traits of quails fed by diets containing mealworms were investigated. A total of 200 mixed-sex one-day-old quail chicks were used in the study. The basal diets were supplemented with 0, 2, 4 and 6 % mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). Four levels of dietary mealworm were arranged in a completely randomized design and the treatments were replicated five times with 10 birds. The chicks were randomly assigned to among 20 cage pens. Feed and water were supplied ad-libitum. In the first week of the study, all quails were fed with the control diet. During the next four weeks, the quails were fed with 4 experimental diets. There were significant differences in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio between the treatment groups (P<0.05; P<0.01). The body weight gain of quails fed by diet containing 6 % dietary mealworm was lower than the quails fed by the diets containing 2 % mealworm. Feed conversion ratio increased by feeding with 4 and 6 % dietary mealworm level when compared to the control and 2 % dietary mealworm level group (P<0.01). Feed intake, carcass weight and carcass yield did not differ among the dietary treatments. The study suggested that performance parameters could be lower when dietary level of mealworm meal higher than 2 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focused on analysing the content of selected sterols and profi le of fatty acids of edible insect species - mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and superworm (Zophobas morio), which are expected to increase their usability in human nutrition. Sterols content was determined using capillary gas chromatography method. Cholesterol content was determined at 1335 mg/kg in dry matter (DM) for the mealworm, which was less than for superworm (3224 mg/kg DM). Other sterols analysed were stigmasterol and ß-sitosterol, which were once again higher in superworm (stigmasterol - 44 mg/kg DM and ß-sitosterol - 414 mg/kg DM) than in mealworm (stigmasterol - 18 mg/kg DM and ß-sitosterol - 171 mg/kg DM). From the nutritional point of view, the amount of cholecalciferol is also not negligible, which was 190 µg/kg DM in mealworm and 199 µg/kg DM in superworm. Atherogenic index (AI), thrombogenic index (TI), and cholesterol index (CSI) were calculated for both species and compared with the results of other authors. These indexes are often considered predictors of cardiovascular diseases. A potential benefit of both species could be the balanced proportion of sterols of animal and plant origin that could be nutritionally well-accessible and lower weight of dry matter necessary to consume to cover the daily dose of linoleic acid compared to dried beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract During rearing of insects for food and feed, their microbial safety is of utmost importance, but little is known on the transmission of food pathogens from the substrate to the insects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether transmission of Salmonella sp. to mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) can occur, in case mealworms are fed with contaminated wheat bran as substrate. Three consecutive contamination levels of a mixed culture of three Salmonella enterica strains in wheat bran were studied, being 7, 4, and 2 log cfu/g. At each of these contamination levels, Salmonella sp. remained present in the bran during the experimental period of seven days when larvae were absent. This indicates that Salmonella sp. can survive for at least seven days when wheat bran is stored, as is done in industrial rearing facilities. When larvae were present, however, the survival of Salmonella sp. in larvae and bran depended on the contamination level. When bran was contaminated with 7 log cfu/g Salmonella sp., the bacterium was still present after seven days in both larvae and bran, with average numbers of 3.7–4.1 log cfu/g, respectively. At a contamination level of the bran of 4 log cfu/g, Salmonella sp. counts decreased until <1.5 log cfu/g and <1.0 log cfu/g on average in bran and larvae, respectively. However, the pathogen was still detected in most larvae and bran samples after seven days, as was shown using presence/absence testing. At a contamination level of 2 log cfu/g, presence/absence testing revealed Salmonella sp. to remain present in some bran samples after seven days, but surprisingly was not detected in the larval samples. Apparently, when present at a low level in the substrate, Salmonella sp. is not retained by the larvae during the seven day period, likely either because of competitive exclusion by the endogenous larval microbiota and/or because of antibacterial activity of the larvae. Highlights • Food pathogens may be present in substrates for insects reared for feed and food. • Survival of Salmonella in wheat bran and transmission to mealworms was studied. • Salmonella survived for at least seven days in the bran when larvae were absent. • When larvae were present, Salmonella was reduced in both bran and larvae by day 7. • Salmonella presence in larvae at day 7 depended on initial numbers in the bran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effects of different processing methods on the nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of mealworms. After processing with nine methods, we calculated the contents of protein, fat, ash, carbohydrate, minerals (P, Ca, K, Fe, Na), vitamin B group (B1, B2, B3), moisture, and calories. When processed by freeze drying among freeze drying, hot air drying, oven broiling, roasting, pan frying, deep frying, boiling, steaming, and microwaving, the contents of protein, some minerals, and vitamins were the highest. The content of total minerals was lowest after deep frying, and those of vitamin B1 and B3 were the lowest after microwaving. Antioxidant activity was then evaluated using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. DPPH assays showed that microwaving, freeze drying, deep frying, steaming, boiling, and oven broiling of mealworms yielded scavenging activities of 20.9–29.0% at 2,000 μg/mL, which was similar to the activity level (22.7–33.2%) of 40–60 μM tocopherol. ABTS assays confirmed that only freeze‐dried mealworms at 2,000 μg/mL exhibited higher activity than 10 μM tocopherol. Interestingly, similar trends were found for antioxidant activity levels and total phenolic contents in mealworms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A new UHPLC method for the analysis of vitamin B 12 in edible insects is proposed. • Vitamin B 12 was studied in mealworm, cricket, grasshopper and cockroach. • Possible occurrence of pseudovitamin B 12 was reported in all four species. • Risk of overestimation of vitamin B 12 content in edible insects. Abstract Insects are rich in major nutrients, such as protein and fat. Recently, minor nutrients like vitamins have become the subjects of interest in insects. Hence, this study reports on the development and validation of a method for the determination of vitamin B 12 in mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larvae), cricket (Gryllus assimilis), grasshopper (Locusta migratoria) and cockroach (Shelfordella lateralis), using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography approach with preliminary immunoaffinity chromatography sample preparation. The method was validated regarding linearity, specificity, accuracy and precision, as well as limits of detection/quantification, and was found to be satisfactory for the desired application. Found levels of vitamin B 12 were 1.08 µg/100 g for mealworm, 2.88 µg/100 g for cricket, 0.84 µg/100 g for grasshopper, and 13.2 µg/100 g dry weight for cockroach, representing the first validated report on the content of vitamin B 12 in edible insects. Observed interferences are likely caused by the presence of pseudovitamin B 12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carrion beetle subfamily Silphinae (Coleoptera: Silphidae) contains dominant macroinvertebrates of soil ecosystems in temperate zones. However, their feeding habits, which determine the role of each species in the ecosystem, have not been sufficiently studied. Moreover, although a diet shift from necrophagy on vertebrate carcasses to predatory feeding on invertebrates is known to occur in this subfamily, the processes and mechanisms of this shift have also been inadequately addressed. We examined female fecundity and larval development on various diets in a Silphinae species, Necrophila (Eusilpha) japonica (Motschulsky). The experimental diets included a meat diet and various invertebrate diets, which reflect the 'ancestral' feeding habit in Silphinae, necrophagy, and the 'derivative' feeding habit, predatory feeding. Female fecundity was significantly higher on the meat diet (minced beef) than on an insect larvae diet (mealworms and dipteran larvae) but did not significantly differ from that on an earthworm diet. Larval developmental performance was significantly higher on the earthworm diet than on the meat and insect larvae diets. Our results for larval development were consistent with those of previous stable isotope analyses of the same species, in which isotopic values of larval samples agree with those of hypothetical consumers that utilize earthworms. The consistency of results among different methods indicates that N. japonica larvae are most likely earthworm feeders. In contrast, our results for the female fecundity experiment differed from those of previous stable isotope analyses, in which vertebrate carcasses unlikely serve as the staple diet of adults in the field; thus, the feeding habits of N. japonica adults remain unresolved. Our observations that females and larvae performed best on the meat and earthworm diets, respectively, may indicate that, in Silphinae, the diet shift from necrophagy to predatory habits occurs earlier in larvae than in adults. We examined female fecundity and larval development on various diets in Necrophila (Eusilpha) japonica (Coleoptera: Silphidae, Silphinae) with laboratory rearing experiments. Female fecundity was highest on the minced beef diet, simulating a vertebrate carcass, whereas larvae performed best on the earthworm diet, a model for predatory feeding on invertebrates. The results were compared to those of previous studies of this beetle species and discussed from methodological, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mealworms from three different regions: Guangzhou, Tai'an and Shenzhen, were fed with three commonly used microplastics of polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) for 1 month under favorable conditions, respectively. The survival rate and average weight of mealworms, the mass loss of microplastics and the production of frass were recorded every 4 days. Samples collected were characterized by X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyzer and gel permeation chromatography. The results showed that mealworms from Tai'an and Shenzhen could effectively metabolize the whole microplastics tested, while those from Guangzhou could only metabolize PS and LDPE. Besides, LDPE could be degraded by mealworms from Tai'an and Shenzhen, while those from Guangzhou showed no such capability, indicating that mealworms from different regions present different metabolism effects. Furthermore, PS and LDPE are more likely to be metabolized compared with PVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeking alternative strategies for health management to control mealworm in poultry barns, in vitro study evaluated the insecticide effect of Ricinus communis, Baccharis trimera and Chenopodium ambrosioides extracts against adults of Alphitobius diaperinus. The extracts were tested at concentrations of 0, 2, 4 and 8%. To study insecticidal effects was designed an experiment containing groups with 20 adults in 3 replicates for each treatment, evaluating the mortality percentage of 1, 3, 16 and 24 hours after treatment with counting of live and dead adults. Greater insecticidal effect was observed in treated mealworm with 8 % of R. communis aqueous extract (59.0%) compared to C. ambrosioides and B. trimera which had percentages of mortality of 44.6% and 0.0% at the same concentration, respectively. The aqueous extracts of R. communis and C. ambrosioides at 8% showed promising results for the control of adults mealworm. However, pharmacological studies must be designed to determine strategies and formulations for viable application of these extracts in poultry facilities, as well as to determinate the formulations stability, clinical and environmental safety treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work focuses on some aspects of content and properties of the fat in mealworm as a novel food. The total fat content of this species is a markedly variable nutritional value that is significantly dependent on the breeding conditions. In this work, the fat content of a mealworm from various Czech suppliers ranged from 202 g.kg-1 to 282 g.kg-1 dry matter, determined using the Soxhlet extraction method. The total average value from all suppliers was 235.8 ±40.8 g.kg-1. This is a range that can be expected by the customer when buying mealworm larvae from a random Czech supplier. Furthermore, the work graphically compares the values of the total fat content with other comparable commodities of animal origin, e.g. chicken or fish. Finally, the aim was to obtain initial information about the comparison of the sensory properties of the mealworm fat with other fats of animal origin using a simple electronic nose. There was a difference between the fat obtained from insect larvae and the conventional unprocessed fats. This work brings a wider view of fat as a taste carrier in a new food - a mealworm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work deals with the digestibility of a selected species of edible insect - mealworm (larvae) as novel food in dependency on its culinary treatment. The aim of this work was to find suitable thermic culinary treatment of mealworm larvae considering its optimum digestibility by human. The digestibility of materials from whole insect and extracted nitrogenous substances was determined using three different culinary treatments - without culinary treatment (freshly killed), dried insect and roasted insect. The digestibility was determined by gravimetric in vitro method using pepsin and pancreatin enzymes and their combination. The total nitrogen content of the insect samples was determined by the Kjeldahl method. The digestibility of the whole homogenized larvae using the combination of pepsin and pancreatin enzymes, thus simulating human digestion in-vitro, ranged from 81% for roasted specimens to 91.5% for culinary unprocessed insect. Similarly, the digestibility of nitrogenous substances of homogenized insect samples using this combination of enzymes ranged from 24.2% for roasted specimens to 80.2% for culinary unprocessed samples. The work showed the dependence of the digestibility of the mealworm larvae on the culinary treatment - the increasing heat load of the sample reduced the digestibility. Furthermore, it proved the effect of the digestive enzyme on the digestibility of the insect sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible insects, due to their high nutritional value, are a good choice for traditional food supplementation. The effects of partial replacement of wheat flour and butter with mealworm flour (Tenebrio molitor) on the quality attributes of shortcake biscuits were studied. The approximate composition was analyzed, along with the physical properties and color. Moreover, the antioxidant properties, starch digestibility, and glycemic index were determined in vitro. The protein and ash contents in biscuits supplemented with mealworm flour increased, while the carbohydrates content decreased. The increasing insect flour substitution decreased the lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) but increased the redness (a*), total color difference (ΔE), and browning index (BI). The spread factor for the sample with the highest proportion of mealworm flour was significantly higher than the other biscuits. Furthermore, higher additions of mealworm flour increased the antioxidant activity of the biscuits and contributed to an increase in the content of slowly digested starch, with a decrease in the content of rapidly digested starch. Therefore, the results of the research are promising and indicate the possibility of using edible insects to enrich food by increasing the nutritional and health-promoting values.

Edible insects have been used as an alternative protein source for food and animal feed, and the market size for edible insects has increased. Tenebrio molitor larvae, also known as mealworm and yellow mealworm, are considered a good protein source with nutritional value, digestibility, flavor, and a functional ability. Additionally, they are easy to breed and feed for having a stable protein content, regardless of their diets. Therefore, T. molitor larvae have been produced industrially as feed for pets, zoo animals, and even for production animals. To maintain the nutrient composition and safety of T. molitor larvae, slaughtering (heating or freezing) and post-slaughtering (drying and grinding) procedures should be improved for animal feed. T. molitor larvae are also processed with defatting or hydrolysis before grinding. They have a high quality and quantity of protein and amino acid profile, so are considered a highly sustainable protein source for replacing soybean meal or fishmeal. T. molitor has a chitin in its cuticle, which is an indigestible fiber with positive effects on the immune system. In studies of poultry, the supplementation of T. molitor larvae improved the growth performance of broiler chickens, without having negative effects on carcass traits, whereas some studies have reported that there were no significant differences in the growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens. In studies of swine, the supplementation of T. molitor larvae improved the growth performance and protein utilization of weaning pigs. Furthermore, 10% of T. molitor larvae showed greater amino acid digestibility than conventional animal proteins in growing pigs. However, there are some challenges regarding the biosafety, consumer’s acceptance, and price for the use of T. moiltor larvae in animal feed. Consequently, T. molitor larvae could be used as an alternative or sustainable protein source in monogastric animal feed with a consideration of the nutritional values, biosafety, consumer’s acceptance, and market price of T. molitor larvae products.

Global population growth and an alarming rate of global warming conditions have driven the need for protein from alternative non-conventional sources, namely, insect proteins, through a sustainable approach. The protein concentrate of Tenebrio molitor larvae was examined for its suitability and applicability as a food ingredient. Protein was extracted through the acid-alkali method with ∼79% of extraction efficiency. The protein-bound polyphenols were extracted and quantified, and the anti-oxidant potential of protein-bound polyphenols and protein concentrate was assessed. The colour parameters of protein concentrate showed brighter colour (L*, 57.3) than the whole insect powder (L*, 39.0). The surface hydrophobicity of protein concentrate increased to 650, and an increase in the total and free sulfhydryl content (15.39 and 9.158 μmol/g, respectively) was also observed compared to the whole insect powder. Significantly higher protein solubility was observed at pH 2 (72.3%) and pH 11 (66.4%), as compared to near the pI (6.9% at pH 5 and 30.15% at pH 4). Several prominent proteins, including 86 and 56 kDa early-staged encapsulation-inducing proteins, cuticle proteins, and structural proteins were identified in protein concentrate. The techno-functional properties revealed that mealworm protein concentrate was superior to whole insect powder and comparable to whey protein isolate. These findings confirmed the excellent functional properties of mealworm protein concentrate, which can be further explored as a novel food ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]