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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.

Submitted by Gabriela de Souza Peres Carvalho (gabriela.peres@unesp.br) on 2021-04-13T13:31:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Gabriela de Souza Peres Carvalho-versãofinal.docx: 3803645 bytes, checksum: 9560d2601b0e32202cb976f075f3fa10 (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Raiane da Silva Santos (raiane.santos@unesp.br) on 2021-04-16T23:41:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 carvalho_gsp_me_ilha.pdf: 1466408 bytes, checksum: b6e309f05133a62ac07386c70048a922 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2021-04-16T23:41:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 carvalho_gsp_me_ilha.pdf: 1466408 bytes, checksum: b6e309f05133a62ac07386c70048a922 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021-02-12 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) A utilização da larva do tenébrio na alimentação animal é estudada e vista como uma opção proteica, seja in natura, através da desidratação das larvas ou na forma de farinha. Objetivou-se avaliar níveis de inclusão (0%, 4%, 8% e 12%) de larvas de Tenebrio molitor desidratadas e moídas de (LTDM) em rações peletizadas para papagaios verdadeiros (Amazona aestiva), bem como o consumo e digestibilidade dos nutrientes e energia. Vinte e quatro papagaios foram alojados em grupos de 3 por gaiola (0,75 cm x 0,75 cm x 1 m), representando uma unidade experimental e distribuídos em um delineamento em quadrado latino duplo (4X4), sendo 4 rações experimentais e 4 períodos de avaliação, portanto, 8 repetições por tratamento. Durante cada período (4 dias para a adaptação às rações experimentais e 4 dias para coleta total de excretas), foram quantificados o consumo de água, consumo e desperdício de ração e produção de excretas e determinada a composição das rações e das excretas. Posteriormente foram calculados os valores de ingestão de nutrientes e energia, os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA), a energia metabolizável aparente (EMA) e corrigida pelo balanço de nitrogênio (EMAn). A inclusão da LTDM em rações para papagaio verdadeiro não interferiu (P > 0,05%) no consumo de água, consumo voluntário de ração, digestibilidade da matéria seca e dos nutrientes ou na metabolização da energia. O aproveitamento da proteína das dietas foi satisfatório quando se quantificou o balanço de nitrogênio, com valores positivos em todas as inclusões avaliadas. O aumento no nível de EMA e EMAn das rações foi notado a partir de 0,76% e 1,07% de inclusão de LTDM, respectivamente, entretanto esses aumentos não interferiram na ingestão diária de EMA (227,5 kcal/kg0,75) e EMAn (218,7 kcal/kg0,75). A inclusão de LTDM como fonte de proteína e de energia não comprometeu o aproveitamento dos nutrientes e a partir de 1,07% contribuiu para o aumento no teor de EMAn da ração. The use of mealworm in animal feed is studied and seen as a protein option, either in natura, through the dehydration of the larvae or in the form of flour. The objective was to evaluate levels of inclusion (0%, 4%, 8% and 12%) of dehydrated and ground Tenebrio molitor larvae (DGTL) in pelleted diets for turquoise-fronted amazon (Amazona aestiva), as well as the consumption and digestibility of nutrients and energy. Twenty four parrots were housed in groups of 3 per cage (0.75 cm x 0.75 cm x 1 m) representing an experimental unit and distributed in a double latin square design (4 X 4), with 4 experimental diets and 4 periods of avaliation, therefore, eight repetitions per treatment. During each period (4 days for adaptation to experimental rations and 4 days for total collection of excreta), water consumption, feed consumption and waste and excreta production were quantified and the composition of the rations and excreta was determined. Subsequently, the values of nutrient and energy intake, the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC), the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and the nitrogen balance (AMEn) were calculated. The inclusion of DGTL in diets for parrots did not interfere (P> 0.05%) in water consumption, voluntary feed intake, digestibility of dry matter and nutrients or metabolizability of energy. The use of protein in the diets was satisfactory when the nitrogen balance was quantified, with positive values in all evaluated inclusions. The increase in the level of AME and AMEn of the diets was noticed from 0.76% and 1.07% of inclusion of DGTL, respectively, however these increases did not interfere in the daily intake of EMA (227.5 kcal/kg0.75 ) and AMEn (218.7 kcal/kg0.75). The inclusion of DGTL as a source of protein and energy did not compromise the use of nutrients and from 1.07% contributed to the increase in the content of AMEn in the feed. CAPES: 001

Background Gut microbial communities play important roles in nutrient management and can change in response to host diets. The extent of this flexibility and the concomitant resilience is largely unknown in wild animals. To untangle the dynamics of avian-gut microbiome symbiosis associated with diet changes, we exposed Parus major (Great tits) fed with a standard diet (seeds and mealworms) to either a mixed (seeds, mealworms and fruits), a seed, or a mealworm diet for 4 weeks, and examined the flexibility of gut microbiomes to these compositionally different diets. To assess microbiome resilience (recovery potential), all individuals were subsequently reversed to a standard diet for another 4 weeks. Cloacal microbiomes were collected weekly and characterised through sequencing the v4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using Illumina MiSeq. Results Initial microbiomes changed significantly with the diet manipulation, but the communities did not differ significantly between the three diet groups (mixed, seed and mealworm), despite multiple diet-specific changes in certain bacterial genera. Reverting birds to the standard diet led only to a partial recovery in gut community compositions. The majority of the bacterial taxa that increased significantly during diet manipulation decreased in relative abundance after reversion to the standard diet; however, bacterial taxa that decreased during the manipulation rarely increased after diet reversal Conclusions The gut microbial response and partial resilience to dietary changes support that gut bacterial communities of P. major play a role in accommodating dietary changes experienced by wild avian hosts. This may be a contributing factor to the relaxed association between microbiome composition and the bird phylogeny. Our findings further imply that interpretations of wild bird gut microbiome analyses from single-time point sampling, especially for omnivorous species or species with seasonally changing diets, should be done with caution. The partial community recovery implies that ecologically relevant diet changes (e.g., seasonality and migration) open up gut niches that may be filled by previously abundant microbes or replaced by different symbiont lineages, which has important implications for the integrity and specificity of long-term avian-symbiont associations.

The increasing development of edible insect flours as alternative sources of proteins added to food and feed products for improving their nutritional value, necessitates an accurate evaluation of their possible adverse side-effects, especially for individuals suffering from food allergies. Using a proteomic- and bioinformatic-based approach, the diversity of proteins occurring in currently consumed edible insects such as silkworm (Bombyx mori), cricket (Acheta domesticus), African migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), and giant milworm beetle (Zophobas atratus), was investigated. Most of them consist of phylogenetically-related protein allergens widely distributed in the different groups of arthropods (mites, insects, crustaceans) and mollusks. However, a few proteins belonging to discrete protein families including the chemosensory protein, hexamerin, and the odorant-binding protein, emerged as proteins highly specific for edible insects. To a lesser extent, other proteins such as apolipophorin III, the larval cuticle protein, and the receptor for activated protein kinase, also exhibited a rather good specificity for edible insects. These proteins, that are apparently missing or much less represented in other groups of arthropods, mollusks and nematods, share well conserved amino acid sequences and very similar three-dimensional structures. Owing to their ability to trigger allergic responses in sensitized people, they should be used as probes for the specific detection of insect proteins as food ingredients in various food products and thus, to assess their food safety, especially for people allergic to edible insects.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T12:36:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-22 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Piaui State Research Support Foundation (FAPEPI) In order to investigate a low-cost and sustainable food source, the present study evaluated the use of poultry litter for rearing Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The experiment was performed with five diets containing increasing levels of poultry litter (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) replacing the control diet and five replicates with 50 larvae per sample unit. Larval growth and development were evaluated and the chemical compositions of diet and T. molitor larvae were determined. Larval development and reproduction efficiency of T. molitorwere similar in all treatments.The sole use of poultry litter to feed T. molitor reduced the crude protein of flour by only 8%. Including 50% or more poultry litter in the standard diet is the best-suited formulation for larvae production and incorporation of minerals in the larvae. Mealworm can be grown successfully on diets composed by poultry litter, the diet did not affect survival, growth, and development; however, studies spanning several insect generations should be performed to determine the effects of diet composition on adult fecundity. The knowledge acquired using poultry litter to feed T. molitor will be useful to carry out new research, in addition to evidencing the possibility of low-cost mass rearing of these larvae. Univ Fed Piaui, Dept Agr Sci, Br 135 KM 3 Planalto Horizonte, BR-64900000 Piaui, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Fitotecnia, BR-15385000 Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Fitotecnia, BR-15385000 Sao Paulo, Brazil

Polylactic acid (PLA) is biodegraded rapidly under composting or thermophilic temperature but slowly under natural conditions with substantial microplastics generated. In this study, we examined the feasibility of PLA biodegradation and developed a novel approach for PLA waste management using yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) to achieve biodegradation and resource recovery simultaneously. Results confirmed PLA biodegradation in mealworms as sole PLA and PLA-bran mixtures (10%, 20%, 30% and 50% PLA, wt/wt). Feeding PLA-bran mixtures supported the larval development with higher survival rates and lower cannibal rates than feeding PLA only at ambient temperature. The PLA conversion efficiency was 90.9% with 100% PLA diet and was around 81.5–86.9% with PLA-bran mixtures. A peak insect biomass yield was achieved at a PLA ratio of 20%. PLA biodegradation was verified via detection of chemical and thermal modifications. Gut microbial community analysis indicated that intestinal communities shifted with PLA biodegradation, resulting in clusters with OTUs unique to the PLA diet. Based on these findings, we propose a circular approach for PLA waste management via resource recovery of used PLA as the feedstock for insect biomass production, management of mealworm excrement waste as fertilizer, and utilization of agricultural products for PLA production.

The exponential increase in world population is leading to a need for new sustainable protein sources that could supply the high demands without resulting in an enormous environmental impact. Bioactive peptides from food proteins are currently seen as capable of modulating physiological processes, such as diabetes. The potential of insects as a cheap source of antidiabetic peptides is a recent research topic. In this work, fractionation and identification of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides from mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) was carried out. Peptides from 500 to 1600 Da showed the highest level of DPP-IV inhibition (IC50 value of 0.91 mg ml-1) and peptides below 500 Da showed the highest level of α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 value of 2.58 mg ml-1). Numerous novel peptides were identified from the most bioactive fractions, and based on the molecular features usually described for these peptides, some of them are suggested to be the bioactive peptides responsible for the inhibition observed (e.g. APVAH for DPP-IV inhibition and CSR for α-glucosidase inhibition). Hence, these insect protein hydrolysates or their purified fractions could be used as ingredients for regulation of the glycaemic index.

The influence of mealworm (MW) as a dietary protein source on the quality and sensory characteristics of the broiler meat was evaluated. 400 day-old male broilers were randomly distributed into 4 groups using a completely randomized design. Each group was replicated 5 times with 20 birds per replicate. Dietary feeds were included 4 levels of MW (0, 1, 2, and 3%) and fed from 1 to 24 days of age. Chickens took a normal diet (without MW) from 25 to 42 days of age. On days 24 and 42, four birds from each replicate were slaughtered and eviscerated. Sensory attributes were carried out on raw carcass and cooked breast meat using a quantitative descriptive analysis method. Proximate analysis, Water Holding Capacity (WHC), pH, Total Volatile Base Nitrogen (TVB-N), and texture analysis were also done on chicken breast meat. On day 24, significant differences were observed between control and birds fed with MW in terms of fat, ash, pH, TVB-N, WHC, and lightness of carcass. The highest TVB-N (35.50 ml/100 g N), and the lowest WHC (71.60%) were observed in bird received 3% MW. The control had better sensory attributes than those fed with MW in terms of skin color, meat color, abdominal cavity odor, and texture. On day 42, no significant difference was observed in sensory attributes of carcass and chicken meat except for juiciness. Dietary inclusion of MW up to 3% may be appropriate and sensory attributes and meat quality of broilers may adversely be influenced in higher levels.

The resistance of insect populations to the existing insecticides grows fast due to their continuous use. Thus, the need for new and effective formulations is increasing. Isolated compounds of botanical origin may represent a promising solution for green pest management strategies. In this study, isofuranodiene derived from Smyrnium olusatrum L. (Apiales: Apiaceae) essential oil (EO), was nanoemulsified (3% w/w) to treat wheat kernels with two concentrations (500 and 1000 ppm) against adults and larvae of three tenebrionid beetles attacking stored products, the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), the confused flour beetle Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val, and the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor L. Mortality rates were calculated after 4, 8 and 16 h and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days. The isofuranodiene-based nanoemulsion (NE) exhibited high adulticidal effects against T. molitor, and larvicidal activity against T. castaneum and T. confusum, reaching 98.6, 97.4 and 93.5% at 1000 ppm after 7 days of exposure, respectively. On the other hand, the NE caused low mortality rates on adults of T. castaneum and T. confusum, as well as on larvae of T. molitor, not exceeding 26.2, 10.0 and 15.6% at 1000 ppm, 7 days post-exposure, respectively. Overall, the 3% (w/w) isofuranodiene-based NE developed here has a significant potential to protect stored wheat from tenebrionid beetle infestations.

International audience; AbstractGiven the current rate of human population growth, the mass breeding of insects for feed and food is in full industrial development, as a more efficient and effective alternative to conventional livestock for the production of animal protein. In these industries, the production of insect excreta (frass) represents one of the main outputs of the process, being up to 40 times greater than the production of animal biomass, which is why its use as organic fertilizer to replace the use of agrochemicals is considered a viable alternative in the development of sustainable agriculture and a circular economy. Through a review of all the existing literature, this article highlights the following benefits of the use of insect frass as organic fertilizer in sustainable agriculture: (1) contribution of nutrients to the soil, mainly nitrogen, easily assimilated by plant tissues; (2) addition of biomolecules and microorganisms that promote plant growth; and (3) increased tolerance to abiotic stresses and resistance to pathogens and pests due to the presence of different compounds and microorganisms. Therefore, insect frass from the mass breeding of insects for feed and food represents an important source of effective organic fertilizer for use in sustainable agriculture.

The forecasted growth of insect production in the next few years will generate high quantities of frass (insect excreta). Although frass is increasingly considered a potential fertilizer, the dynamics of nutrient supply by frass is still poorly understood. Here, we aimed at gaining insight into the short-term fertilizer value of frass from mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) in order to optimize its sustainable use in agroecosystems. Using a short-term pot experiment, we showed that, even though frass has a great potential to be used as a substitute of mineral NPK fertilizer, its N fertilizer potential is mediated by its rate of application. At 10 t ha−1, due to its fast mineralization coupled with improvement in microbial activity (assessed using Biolog EcoPlate), frass was as effective as mineral fertilizer to supply N to plant. By contrast, at 5 t ha−1, the lower frass mineralization induced a reduced N uptake compared to its mineral control. Unlike N, frass was as effective as mineral fertilizer to supply P and K to plants irrespective of its application rate. This was attributed to the presence of P and K in a readily available form in frass. Taken together, our results indicate that mealworm frass supplies very rapidly N, P and K to plants but its effects on N dynamics should be better investigated to warrant its sustainable use as an alternative fertilizer for managing NPK nutrition in cropping systems.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on dried yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The term yellow mealworm refers to the larval form of the insect species Tenebrio molitor. The NF is the thermally dried yellow mealworm, either as whole dried insect or in the form of powder. The main components of the NF are protein, fat and fibre (chitin). The Panel notes that the levels of contaminants in the NF depend on the occurrence levels of these substances in the insect feed. The Panel notes that there are no safety concerns regarding the stability of the NF if the NF complies with the proposed specification limits during its entire shelf life. The NF has a high protein content, although the true protein levels in the NF are overestimated when using the nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor of 6.25, due to the presence of non-protein nitrogen from chitin. The applicant proposed to use the NF as whole, dried insect in the form of snacks, and as a food ingredient in a number of food products. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general population. The Panel notes that considering the composition of the NF and the proposed conditions of use, the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. The submitted toxicity studies from the literature did not raise safety concerns. The Panel considers that the consumption of the NF may induce primary sensitisation and allergic reactions to yellow mealworm proteins and may cause allergic reactions in subjects with allergy to crustaceans and dust mites. Additionally, allergens from the feed may end up in the NF. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed uses and use levels. (C) 2021 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.

Syftet med studien är att genom sensoriska analyser sammanställa ett doft- och smakbibliotek för hampfrö-presskaka, gula mjölmasklarver, texturerad veteprotein, ärtproteinisolat och ärtprotein koncentrat. Metoderna pilotstudie, konsensustest och in-house intensitetstest används i studieprocessen. Pilotstudiens syfte är att få en ökad förståelse för produkternas doft och smak. Konsensustestet är en central punkt för uppbyggnaden av doft- och smakbiblioteket, eftersom övervägande attribut som genererats under testet används till produktbeskrivningen i doft- och smakbiblioteket. Inhouse intensitetstestet avsikt är verifiera attributgenereringens validitet från konsensustestet. Resultatet från pilotstudien bidrar med referenser till konsensustestet. Det finns även gemensamma egenskapsord för produkternas doft- och smak i pilotstudien och i konsensustestet. Resultatet från konsensustestet visar att det är svårt att särskilja smak från munkänsla, där till exempel olja kan fastställas som en smak från hampfrö-presskaka. Resultatet från inhouse intensitetstestet har ett större bortfall, vilket gör det svårt att fastställa attributen på grund av differentialen i minimum- och maximum värdet. Attribut som gav en beskrivande text till biblioteket visar att hampfrö-presskaka har en doft av gräs och tång där smak påminner om doft. Ärtproteinisolat doftar framför allt spannmål och smaken påminner om frön och majs. Gula mjölmasklarver doftar cerealier och valnötter, där smaken utgår från grundsmaken umami. Texturerad veteprotein har en doft som kan härledas till rostade vetepuffar och havregryn, där smak påminner om doft. Sista produkten ärtprotein koncentrat, har en doft av ärtskott och en besk smak., The purpose of the study is to construct a fragrance- and flavour library for sensory analyses for hemp seed press cake, yellow mealworms, textured wheat protein, pea protein isolate and pea protein concentrate. The methods pilot study, consensus test and inhouse intensity test are used to be able to execute the study. The purpose of the pilot study is to gain an increased understanding of the fragrance- and flavour of the pre-products. The consensus test is a central point for the structure of the fragrance- and flavour library, since predominant attributes generated during the test are used for the product description in the fragrance- and flavour library. The purpose of the inhouse intensity test is to verify the validity of the attribute generation from the consensus test. The results from the pilot study contribute with references to the consensus test. There are also common attributes for the products' fragrance- and flavour in the pilot study and in the consensus test. The results from the consensus test show that it is difficult to distinguish between taste and mouthfeel. For example, can oil from hemp seed press cake be determined as a flavour. The result from the inhouse intensity test has a large statistical error, which makes it difficult to determine the attributes due to the differential in the minimum- and maximum value. Attributes that gave a descriptive text to the library show that hemp seed press cake has a scent of grass and seaweed where the taste is reminiscent of the scent. Pea protein isolate mainly smells of grain, the taste is reminiscent of seeds and corn. Yellow mealworms smell like cereals and walnuts where the taste is based on the basic taste umami. Textured wheat protein has a scent that can remind of roasted wheat puffs and oatmeal, where the taste is reminiscent of the scent. The last product is pea protein concentrate, which has a scent of pea shoots, and the taste is bitter.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of feeding three types of insect meal on broilers’ performance and selected gut health parameters. Day-old straight-run Ross 308 broilers (n=600) were group housed in 24 pens and fed diets containing 10% of either Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm, YMW), defatted Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly, BSF) or Alphitobius diaperinus (lesser mealworm, LMW), or a control (CTRL) diet for 35 days. Feed intake and gain were recorded at days 14, 28 and 35. On day 13, four broilers from each pen were placed in metabolic cages to determine apparent total tract digestibility after adaptation to 100% of one of three types of insect meal. Birds were killed, and intestinal content was collected on days 22 and 36 for determination of pH, selected groups of intestinal bacteria and short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Footpad lesions were scored on day 36. Birds fed LMW and YMW ate less than birds fed BSF or CTRL, but feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved when birds were fed LMW. Dry matter digestibility was similar among insects, but differences were observed in ash and fat digestibility and nitrogen retention in which the BSF meal gave the highest digestibility of these nutrients. Birds fed any type of insect meal diet had higher levels of Clostridium perfringens in caecal and ileal digesta. Footpad dermatitis severity was similar between CTRL and insect-supplemented diets. Total SCFA levels as well as butyrate in digesta of birds fed BSF was lower than the levels of these SCFA in the other treatments. The propionate concentrations in caecal and ileal digesta were high for all diets containing insect meal. In conclusion, gain was maintained when feeding BSF but not LMW and YMW due to lower feed intake. Insect meal did not affect indicators of broilers’ gut health.

Tachykinin-related peptides (TRPs) are important neuropeptides. Here we show that they affect the insect immune system, especially the cellular response. We also identify and predict the sequence and structure of the tachykinin-related peptide receptor (TRPR) and confirm the presence of expression of gene encoding TRPR on Tenebrio molitor haemocytes. After application of the Tenmo-TRP-7 in T. molitor the number of circulating haemocytes increased and the number of haemocytes participating in phagocytosis of latex beads decreased in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Also, Tenmo-TRP-7 affects the adhesion ability of haemocytes. Six hours after injection of Tenmo-TRP-7, a decrease of haemocyte surface area was observed under both tested Tenmo-TRP-7 concentrations (10−7 and 10−5 M). The opposite effect was reported 24 h after injection, which indicates that the influence of Tenmo-TRP-7 on modulation of haemocyte behaviour differs at different stages of stress response. Tenmo-TRP-7 application also resulted in increased phenoloxidase activity 6 and 24 h after injection. The assessment of DNA integrity of haemocytes showed that the injection of Tenmo-TRP-7 at 10−7 M led to a decrease in DNA damage compared to control individuals. This effect was only visible 6 h after Tenmo-TRP-7 application. After 24 h, Tenmo-TRP-7 injection increased DNA damage. We also confirmed the expression of immune-related genes in nervous tissue of T. molitor. Transcripts for genes encoding receptors participating in pathogen recognition processes and antimicrobial peptides were detected in T. molitor brain, retrocerebral complex and ventral nerve cord. These results may indicate a role of the insect nervous system in pathogen recognition and modulation of immune response similar to vertebrates. Taken together, our results support the notion that tachykinin-related peptides probably play an important role in the regulation of the insect immune system. Moreover, some resemblances with action of tachykinin-related peptides and substance P showed that insects can be potential model organisms for analysis of hormonal regulation of conserved innate immune mechanisms.

This study analysed the effectiveness of using different levels of a product based on 6% cypermethrin and 2% citronella on broiler production and control the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus). A total of 648 one-day-old chicks (Cobb®) which were allocated to one of three treatments (no application of the commercial product - control, and two concentrations of the product 2.00 and 3.33g/m2) in eight replicates with 27 birds each. The commercial product, which was based on cypermethrin was applied in the chambers with an atomizer. The lesser mealworm population was sampled weekly (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of the experiment) using traps, at three points (front, middle and back) inside the pen. The performance, carcass and cut yields were evaluated. At 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of the experiment, the number of lesser mealworm adults and larvae was lower in the treatment groups involving 2.00 and 3.33g/m2 of the product than in the control group. On the first and 14th days of the study, the number of lesser mealworms adults was lower in the group treated with 3.33g/m2 of the product compared to the control group, although the results did not differ statistically from those obtained with 2.00g/m2 of the product. In conclusion, the application of the commercial product at both concentrations (2.00 and 3.33g/m2) was effective in combating Alphitobius diaperinus adults and larvae, and the performance was not influenced by treatments. RESUMO: Este estudo analisou a eficácia do uso de diferentes níveis de um produto à base de cipermetrina a 6% e citronela a 2%, na produção de frangos de corte e no controle do cascudinho (Alphitobius diaperinus). Um total de 648 pintos de um dia de idade (Cobb®) foram distribuídos em três câmaras com os tratamentos (sem aplicação do produto comercial - controle, e duas concentrações do produto comercial - 2,00 e 3,33g/m2) em oito repetições com 27 aves cada. O produto comercial a base de cipermetrina foi aplicado nas câmaras com um atomizador. A população de cascudinho foi amostrada semanalmente (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 e 42 dias do experimento) usando armadilhas, em três pontos (frente, meio e fundo) de cada parcela. Foram avaliados o desempenho, rendimentos de carcaça e cortes. Aos 21, 28, 35 e 42 dias do experimento, o número de adultos e larvas de cascudinho foi menor nos grupos de tratamento envolvendo 2,00 e 3,33g/m2 do produto quando comparado ao grupo controle. No primeiro e no 14º dia do estudo, o número de cascudinhos adultos foi menor no grupo tratado com 3,33g/m2 do produto em comparação ao grupo controle, embora os resultados não tenham diferido estatisticamente daqueles obtidos com 2,00g/m2 do produto. A conversão alimentar de 1 a 21 dias de idade foi significativa, com os melhores resultados para essa variável quando aplicado 3,33g do produto por metro quadrado e no tratamento controle. Em conclusão, a aplicação do produto comercial em ambas as concentrações (2,00 e 3,33g/m2) foi eficaz no combate a adultos e larvas de Alphitobius diaperinus e, não influenciou o desempenho.

Lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) is an insect species that can be reared on an industrial scale for human consumption. In this study, the hydration behavior of processed lesser mealworm food ingredients (whole powder, protein concentrate, textured protein) was analyzed in comparison to whey protein concentrate and tofu. Moisture adsorption isotherms were determined gravimetrically over 0.11–0.96 water activity range at 5 and 20 °C, and seven sorption models were applied to fit the experimental data. The Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer model performed best on the isotherms of all studied samples. The determined adsorption isotherms were type III according to Brunauer classification. Mealworm protein concentrate presented the strongest hydration capacity at 20 °C, followed by whey protein concentrate and whole mealworm powder. Textured mealworm protein and tofu exhibited similar hydration behavior at 5 °C. Moreover, browning and agglomeration of mealworm protein concentrate powder were observed at water activities of 0.73 and higher, which can be explained by its composition and porous structure and were not typical for whey protein concentrate. The moisture adsorption results are important for the prediction of lesser mealworm ingredients shelf-life or prevention of undesirable quality changes during storage, but more research on microbial growth and sensory quality is needed.

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are important soil-dwelling entomopathogens, which can be used as biological control agents against pest insects. EPF are capable of causing lethal epizootics in pest insect populations in agroecosystems. During a survey of the orchard soil at an organic farm, different EPF species were collected and identified to species level, using both morphological and molecular techniques. The EPF were trapped from soil samples taken from an apricot orchard. The traps, which were baited in the laboratory, used susceptible host insects, including the last-instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (wax moth larvae) and Tenebrio molitor (mealworm larvae). The potential pathogenicity of the local Metarhizium majus isolate was tested and verified using susceptible laboratory-reared last-instar T. molitor larvae. The identification of the M. majus isolated from South African soil was verified using both morphological and molecular techniques. The occurrence of M. majus in the South African soil environment had not previously been reported.

The yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., is one of the most significant insect species of economic importance for producing protein-rich food and feed. The larvae are a promising fishmeal substitute for fish feed, and a good alternative source for human nutrition. In this study, the effect of behavioral asymmetries on male mating success of T. molitor was evaluated. Males performing antennal waving (63%) when detecting a female approached the apex of the female abdomen in a comparable manner from both sides (32% from left side vs 31% from right side). Fewer males showed antennal waving and also raised the anterior part of their body (37%) during mate recognition; 14% of them approached on the apex of female abdomen from the left side, and 23% of them approached from the right side of female body. The duration of mate recognition, antennal tapping, rubbing behavior, and the whole mating sequence of males that moved on the apex of the abdomen from the left side of females was significantly lower over that of males approaching from the right side (10.7, 12.6, 16.4, and 126.1 s for left-biased males vs 12.2, 14.8, 18.6, and 139.6 s for right-biased males, respectively). Concerning mounting side, left-biased males showed a shorter duration of rubbing behavior and the whole mating sequence (15.5 and 123.2 s) over right-biased (18.9 and 138.3 s) and backside approaching males (19.4 and 144.1 s). The duration of mate recognition, antennal tapping, and copula was not affected by the presence of a male laterality bias. Overall, this study sheds light on how laterality affects mating traits and the male success of this important edible insect species.

The development of sustainable feed ingredients for monogastric livestock is nowadays considering insect meals and oils to replace or supplement conventional feedstuffs. Although the regulation on the use of insect products differs among countries resulting in restrictions on use in the diets of monogastric meat producers, global research is exploring all the strengths and weaknesses of their inclusion. Therefore, whereas the scientific literature has extensively studied both the relationship between insect farming systems and safety (potential health risks), and between the dietary use of insects and the nutritional value of diets and production performance of farm animals (fish, poultry, swine, rabbit), the relationship between insect-containing diet and meat quality has only recently been considered. The present review therefore aims to collect the results of the studies that have related the dietary use of some insect species, such as the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and the silkworm (Bombyx mori), on the physicochemical and sensory traits of the poultry, swine and rabbit meat. The variable that has been most affected by the inclusion of insects as feed on livestock meat quality is the fatty acid (FA) profile, which, as is well known, in monogastrics tends to reflect that of the diet. Therefore, the black soldier fly inclusion has always originated meats with a more saturated FA profile, the yellow mealworm a more monounsaturated fatty acid profile, whereas the silkworm a more unsaturated fatty acid profile and rich of valuable omega-3 FA, but rarely changed the related physicochemical variables, or the sensory profile of the meat.

The commercial broiler chicken strains are the result of successful selection programmes. Most of the problems related to welfare arise from the high growth rate and body weight. The use of environmental enrichments in intensive farming could have a positive effect on birds by increasing animal welfare. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of Hermetia illucens (HI) and Tenebrio molitor (TM) live larvae in the diets of broiler chickens on growth performance, carcass yield and health status. A total of 180 four‐day‐old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to 18 pens. Each pen was assigned to one of the three dietary treatments (6 replicates/treatment, 10 birds/replicate) as follows: (i) control diet (C): commercial feed (two feeding phases: starter [4–11 days] and grower [12–38 days]), (ii) HI: C + 5% of the expected daily feed intake (DFI) HI live larvae (calculated on dry matter [DM]) and (iii) TM: C + 5% of DFI TM live larvae (DM). At 39 days of age, birds were slaughtered. Growth performance parameters were overall not affected by dietary treatments, except for the grower phase feed conversion ratio (FCR) and the overall FCR being better in the TM broilers than the others (p

The current livestock sector is a large contributor to the environmental challenges facing the world. To reduce the environmental impact of food production, a change of the sector is necessary. Entomophagy could be a step towards a more sustainable protein production. However, the insect farming community has a short history compared to conventional livestock, thus, it lacks knowledge of how a profitable mass production of insects is established. In this study we aimed to find the optimal relative humidity for production of larvae of a popular species for insect farming; the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor. More specifically we tested the effect of relative humidities (RH) of 43, 51, 68, 75 and 84% on the survival rate, mass and length of T. molitor larvae, from hatching and two weeks forward. Control of RH were achieved using the saturated salt solution method, and the temperature was kept at 30oC. Experiments were carried out over 12 weeks. The sample size was 100 larvae and eight replicates per treatment. Results showed that the relative humidity had no effect on larval survival rate but had a significant effect on individual larvae mass and length after three weeks. Larval mass and length increased with humidity, and larvae reared at a relative humidity of 84% were 1.96 times heavier and 1.31 times longer than larvae raised at 43%. Hence, for an industrial mass producer of T. molitor larvae, applying close to the optimal relative humidity of 84% would likely result in an increased larvae size at harvest and a faster growth rate, ultimately leading to a higher yield.

Mealworms are the most common edible insect and feed additives in poultry, livestock, and aquaculture production. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome of dark mealworm Tenebrio obscurus (Zunyi population) was sequenced and annotated. The 15,509 bp circular mitogenome contains a conserved set of 37 mitochondrial genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and an A + T-rich region. The gene order is identical to the typical insect gene arrangement. Great differences were found in A + T-rich regions between Zunyi population and Guiyang population including large deletion and substitution. Phylogenetic analysis showed that T. obscurus clustered within Tenebrionoidea and was closely related to Tenebrio molitor.

The bio-insecticidal efficacy of essential oils from anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), cumin (Carum carvi L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) and origanum (Origanum vulgare L.) essential oils was tested using adults of wheat granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and larvae of yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), as the two representants of stored grain pests. From the essential oils used, cumin showed the highest bio-insecticidal efficacy by both types of tests. From the model organisms used, only adults of wheat granary weevil were affected, since yellow mealworm larvae did not respond nor to any of the essential oils used neither to test type. Essential oils seem to have strong potential to replace dangerous synthetic toxic insecticides, however, their efficacy seems to be strongly dependent on the target organisms as well as way of application., Ефірні олії, як вторинні метаболіти рослин, містять широкий спектр біологічно активних сполук, які можуть впливати на метаболічні, біохімічні, фізіологічні та поведінкові функції комах. Метою даного дослідження було оцінити фумігантну і контактну токсичність ефірних масел деяких видів рослин, що використовуються в кулінарії, порівняти ефективність різної дози та часу експозиції, оцінити різницю між відпрацьованими оліями у відсотках смертності, визначити основні сполуки використовуваних ефірних масел. Біоінсектицидну активність ефірних олій анісу (Pimpinella anisum L.), кмину (Carum carvi L.), фенхеля (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) та материнки (Origanum vulgare L.) досліджували на модельних об’єктах. В якості останніх були обрані імаго довгоносика комірного – Sitophilus granarius L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) та личинки хрущака борошняного – Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). З випробуваних ефірних олій, олія з кмину проявила найвищу біоінсектицидну активність. Модельні організмів по різному реагували на вплив еферних олій. Були уражені лише імаго Sitophilus granarius, натомість личинки Tenebrio molitor не реагували на жодний вид олій, які використовували в тестових випробуваннях. З метою заміщення небезпечних токсичних фумігантів та інсектицидів ефірні олії є можливим інструментом захисту сільськогосподарських культур та продуктів харчування від комах-шкідників, як безпечна альтернатива для людини та довкілля, можуть бути використані в сільському господарстві в системі метоідв інтегрованого захисту від комах-шкідників. Однак, ефективність ефірних олій суттєво залежить від цільових груп організмів, а також способу застосування.

Since the world&rsquo, s population will continue to grow in the next decades, the problem of providing people with food will deepen. One-third of the food production volume is wasted while nearly one in ten people in the world suffer from hunger. To reduce the negative impact of human activity on the environment and meet the needs of the population, alternative sources of protein are proposed. Yellow mealworm larvae can be used as a source of food and animal feed. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and efficiency of ingested feed (ECI) by yellow mealworm larvae fed 13 different diets containing chicken feed (CF), rapeseed meal (RM), wheat bran (WB) and willowleaf sunflower (WS) residues after the process of supercritical CO2 extraction. The mean dry individual bodyweight for all diets used in the experiment was 31.44 mg dry matter (d.m.) Mealworms fed diet mixes that contained WB demonstrated the highest dry individual larval weight (from 40.9 to 47.9 mg d.m.). A significantly lower dry individual larval weight was found for mealworms fed solely WS residues (3.9 mg d.m.). The FCR ranged from 1.57 to 2.08, for pure CF and pure WS diet, respectively. The ECI of yellow mealworm larvae varied significantly (mean value 20.1%) and depended on the diet. Moreover, the ECI of mealworm was significantly the lowest and amounted to 5.9% for the pure WS diet. The industrial residues investigated in this study can be successfully used for mealworm farming, excluding pure willowleaf sunflower residues.

Tenebrio molitor larvae (mealworm) is an edible insect and is considered a future food. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), a novel method for simultaneous analysis of 353 target analytes was developed and validated. Various sample preparation steps including &ldquo, quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe&rdquo, (QuEChERS) extraction conditions, number of acetonitrile-hexane partitions, and dispersive-solid phase extraction (dSPE) sorbents were compared, and the optimal conditions were determined. In the established method, 5 g of homogenized mealworms was extracted with acetonitrile and treated with QuEChERS EN 15662 salts. The crude extract was subjected to three rounds of acetonitrile-hexane partitioning, and the acetonitrile layer was cleaned with C18 dSPE. The final solution was matrix-matched and injected into LC-MS/MS (2 &mu, L). For target analytes, the limits of quantitation (LOQs) were &le, 10 &mu, g/kg, and the correlation coefficient (r2) of calibration was &gt, 0.990. In recovery tests, more than 90% of the pesticides showed an excellent recovery range (70&ndash, 120%) with relative standard deviation (RSD) &le, 20%. For more than 94% of pesticides, a negligible matrix effect (within &plusmn, 20%) was observed. The analytical method was successfully applied and used for the detection of three urea pesticides in 4 of 11 mealworm samples.

The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, the cause of invasive aspergillosis (IA), is a serious risk to transplant patients and those with respiratory diseases. Host immune suppression is considered the most important factor for the development of IA. Less is known about the importance of fungal virulence in the development of IA including the significance of variation between isolates. In this study, isolates of A. fumigatus from cases diagnosed as having proven IA or colonisation (no evidence of IA) were compared in assays to measure isolate virulence. These assays included the measurement of radial growth and protease production on agar, sensitivity to UV light and oxidative stressors, and virulence in Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) larvae. These assays did not reveal obvious differences in virulence between the two groups of isolates; this provided the impetus to conduct genomic analysis. Whole genome sequencing and analysis did not allow grouping into coloniser or IA isolates. However, focused analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms revealed variation in three putative genes: AFUA_5G09420 (ccg-8), AFUA_4G00330, and AFUA_4G00350. These are known to be responsive to azole exposure, and ccg-8 deletion leads to azole hypersensitivity in other fungi. A. fumigatus virulence is challenging, but the findings of this study indicate that further research into the response to oxidative stress and azole exposure are required to understand the development of IA.

Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale L.) is a medicinal plant as it contains high concentrations of colchicine. In this study, we reported that the ground powder of autumn crocus bulb is highly toxic to invasive Solenopsis invicta Buren, commonly referred to as red imported fire ants (RIFAs). Ants fed with sugar water containing 5000 mg/L of bulb powder showed 54.67% mortality in three days compared to 45.33% mortality when fed with sugar water containing 50 mg/L of colchicine. Additionally, the effects of short-term feeding with sugar water containing 1 mg/L of colchicine and 100 mg/L of autumn crocus bulb powder were evaluated for RIFAs&rsquo, colony weight, food consumption, and aggressiveness, i.e., aggregation, grasping ability, and walking speed. After 15 days of feeding, the cumulative colony weight loss reached 44.63% and 58.73% due to the sublethal concentrations of colchicine and autumn crocus bulb powder, respectively. The consumption of sugar water and mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) was substantially reduced. The aggregation rates decreased 48.67% and 34.67%, grasping rates were reduced to 38.67% and 16.67%, and walking speed decreased 1.13 cm/s and 0.67 cm/s as a result of the feeding of the two sublethal concentrations of colchicine and autumn crocus bulb powder, respectively. Our results for the first time show that powder derived from autumn crocus bulbs could potentially be a botanical pesticide for controlling RIFAs, and application of such a product could be ecologically benign due to its rapid biodegradation in the environment.

Background Mealworm beetle T. molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most important cosmopolitan primary storage pests, scavenging on a variety of post-harvest grains and affecting the quality and safety of food and feed. In addition to being an important factor in feed hygiene, the insect can also be an epidemiological factor of canthariasis. Livestock infestations with T. molitor are rarely reported. This article describes T. molitor-caused canthariasis in pigs in large scale closed-cycle farming. Results In the spring, we registered a significantly increased mortality among weaned pigs. In autopsy, live 3–6 mm long T. molitor larvae were found in their stomachs, especially in the non-glandular oesophageal region, on average 2–3 larvae per 10 cm2 of gastric mucosa. Corrective actions reduced the number of deaths back to basal levels. Conclusions This is the first documented case of potentially lethal gastric canthariasis in weaned pigs, caused by invasion of T. molitor larvae. Although canthariasis caused by T. molitor has not been a significant problem in farm animals so far, our case indicates that the presence of mealworm beetles is a potential threat to animal welfare and health.

Males of many insects deliver ejaculates with nutritious substances to females in the form of a spermatophore. Different factors can affect spermatophore quality. We manipulated males’ diet and health to determine the balance of macronutrients deposited in the spermatophores of Tenebrio molitor beetles. For diet, we varied the concentration of proteins and carbohydrates, while for health status we used a fungal infection. Males with different condition copulated with unmanipulated females, and spermatophores were extracted to measure the amount of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Diet and infection had an effect on the quality of the spermatophore. Diets with high protein and low carbohydrate contents produced spermatophores with higher protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contents. In contrast, diets with little protein and high in carbohydrates led to low quality spermatophores. Infected males produced spermatophores with the highest amount of all three macronutrients. In general, spermatophore content was carbohydrates>proteins>=lipids. The fact that sick males produced richer spermatophores can be explained as a terminal investment strategy. The large investment of carbohydrates may be related to the preparation of spermatozoa in males, and eggs in females.

Juvenile hormone has been suggested to be a potential mediator in the trade-off between mating and insects&rsquo, immunity. Studies on various insect taxons have found that juvenile hormone interferes with humoral and cellular immunity. Although this was shown experimentally, studies using highly virulent parasites or pathogens are lacking so far. In this study, we tested if juvenile hormone administration affected resistance against entomopathogenic fungi, Metharizium robertsii, in the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor. In previous studies with T. molitor, juvenile hormone has been found to reduce a major humoral immune effector-system (phenoloxidase) in both sexes and decrease the encapsulation response in males. Here, we found that juvenile hormone administration prolonged survival time after infection with M. robertsii in males but reduced survival time in females. This study indicates that the effects of juvenile hormone on insect immunity might be more complicated than previously considered. We also suggest that there might be a trade-off between specific and non-specific immunity since, in males, juvenile hormone enhances specific immunity but corrupts non-specific immunity. Our study highlights the importance of using real parasites and pathogens in immuno-ecological studies.

The low consumer acceptance to entomophagy in Western society remains the strongest barrier of this practice, despite these numerous advantages. More positively, it was demonstrated that the attractiveness of edible insects can be enhanced by the use of insect ingredients. Currently, insect ingredients are mainly used as filler agents due to their poor functional properties. Nevertheless, new research on insect ingredient functionalities is emerging to overcome these issues. Recently, high hydrostatic pressure processing has been used to improve the functional properties of proteins. The study described here evaluates the functional properties of two commercial insect meals (Gryllodes sigillatus and Tenebrio molitor) and their respective hydrolysates generated by Alcalase&reg, conventionally and after pressurization pretreatment of the insect meals. Regardless of the insect species and treatments, water binding capacity, foaming and gelation properties did not improve after enzymatic hydrolysis. The low emulsion properties after enzymatic hydrolysis were due to rapid instability of emulsion. The pretreatment of mealworm meal with pressurization probably induced protein denaturation and aggregation phenomena which lowered the degree of hydrolysis. As expected, enzymatic digestion (with and without pressurization) increased the solubility, reaching values close to 100%. The pretreatment of mealworm meal with pressure further improved its solubility compared to control hydrolysate, while pressurization pretreatment decreased the solubility of cricket meal. These results may be related to the impact of pressurization on protein structure and therefore to the generation of different peptide compositions and profiles. The oil binding capacity also improved after enzymatic hydrolysis, but further for pressure-treated mealworm hydrolysate. Despite the moderate effect of pretreatment by high hydrostatic pressures, insect protein hydrolysates demonstrated interesting functional properties which could potentially facilitate their use in the food industry.

Simple Summary Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) larvae, known as mealworm, have been considered a good protein source for monogastric animals. They have a high quantity and quality of protein content and amino acid profile. The inclusion of T. molitor larvae in broiler diets improved the growth performance without having negative effects on carcass traits and blood profiles in broiler chickens, or had no influence on the growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens. The supplementation of T. molitor larvae improved the growth performance and protein utilization of weaning pigs. Furthermore, the replacement of fishmeal with T. molitor larvae resulted in no difference in the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of weaning pigs. However, there are some challenges regarding 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. 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.

Entomophagy has been part of human diets for a long time in a significant part of the world, but insects are considered to be a novel food everywhere else. It would appear to be a strategic alternative in the future of human diet to face the challenge of ensuring food security for a growing world population, using more environmentally sustainable production systems than those required for the rearing of other animals. Tenebrio molitor, called yellow mealworm, is one of the most interesting insect species in view of mass rearing, and can be processed into a powder that ensures a long shelf life for its use in many potential products. When considering insects as food or feed, it is necessary to guarantee their safety. Therefore, manufacturers must implement a Hazard Analysis Critical Control plan (HACCP), to limit risks for consumers&rsquo, health. The aim of this case study was to develop a HACCP plan for Tenebrio molitor larvae powders for food in a risk-based approach to support their implementation in industry. Specific purposes were to identify related significant biological hazards and to assess the efficiency of different manufacturing process steps when used as Critical Control Points. Then, combinations of four different processes with four potential uses of powders by consumers in burger, protein shake, baby porridge, and biscuits were analyzed with regard to their safety.

The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is the most important pest in poultry production systems worldwide. Adults and larvae serve as alternative low-quality food for chickens and as a vehicle for animal pathogens resulting in significant economic losses for farmers. Control of this pest is usually performed through insecticide application during the interval between chicken flocks. However, due to the cryptic behaviour of this pest, chemical control is usually not effective. With the aim of developing a sustainable approach to control A. diaperinus, we evaluated integration of the A. diaperinus aggregation pheromone with a highly virulent strain (Unioeste 04) of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae) using an attract-and-infect device. Significant levels of A. diaperinus mortality and lower numbers of offspring (larvae) were observed in laboratory experiments using Unioeste 04. Horizontal transmission of the Unioeste 04 strain through contaminated living A. diaperinus and cadavers was also observed. In field experiments in commercial poultry houses, a significant level of A. diaperinus mortality was observed in Unioeste 04-treated arenas. The results show that the A. diaperinus aggregation pheromone can be used as an attractant in a device impregnated with infective fungal propagules, increasing adult infection and enhancing disease spread. In addition, the use of the microbial control agent inside the device allows the fungus to remain effective for longer periods in the adverse conditions of the poultry house environment.

This paper discusses the sensory analysis of food enriched with selected edible insect species which are labelled as a novel food–house cricket (Acheta domesticus) and mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). Energy bars of two different compositions with the addition of cricket flour and puff pastry bars sprinkled with the whole roasted mealworm larvae were evaluated by consumer tests performed via a questionnaire survey. Respondents represented both men and women in equal numbers and included consumers with the experience of the sensory analysis and edible insects to ensure accurate results. Sensory analyses revealed that respondents associated their tastes with already known flavors (salty, sweet, bitter, fish, French fries, chicken, and mushrooms). The most common answer from respondents was a salty taste, followed by a sweet taste. There were also unusual comparisons such as pine seeds. Consumers’ positive attitude to these energy bars has been registered which shows that the Czech consumer accepts edible insects in a suitable form as a novel food and possible part of the food basket. © 2020 Potravinarstvo Slovak Journal of Food Sciences, License: CC BY 3.0, FEKT-S-20-6215, IGA/FT/2020/010

In this study, we investigated the effect of replacing myofibrillar protein (pork ham) with edible insect proteins (Tenebrio molitor L.) in meat emulsion systems and examined the interaction between the two types of proteins. We also evaluated the rheological properties and thermal stability of these meat emulsions. The replacement ratios of myofibrillar protein and edible insect protein were as follows: 100:0 (EI0), 80:20 (EI20), 60:40 (EI40), 40:60 (EI60), 20:80 (EI80), and 0:100 (EI100). The pH, redness, and yellowness of the emulsion systems, after replacing myofibrillar protein with T. molitor protein, significantly increased with T. molitor protein concentrations. In contrast, the lightness, hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, apparent viscosity, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the emulsion systems decreased significantly with increasing T. molitor protein concentrations. The backscattering values of EI0, EI20, and EI40 decreased evenly in all spots of the dispersions as the storage time increased. Thus, up to 40% of pork myofibrillar protein could be replaced with T. molitor protein in meat emulsion systems. The results also suggest that the interaction between edible insect protein and myofibrillar protein degrades the rheological properties and thermal stability of the meat emulsion systems.

Chicken liver is a main protein source to prepare attractant for dog food. However, animal proteins are costly. Seeking high quality and low-cost protein sources has been a goal for the industry. Mushroom Lentinus edodes (L. edodes) and Mealworm Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) are novel protein sources, showing high potential as raw material of attractants. In this paper, chicken liver, L. edodes, and T. molitor were used as three different protein sources to prepare attractants. Their palatability to dogs were then compared. Firstly, the enzymatic hydrolysis process of three proteins was optimized, with a degree of hydrolysis of 54.82%, 36.10% and 30.14% for chicken liver, L. edodes, and T. molitor respectively. Secondly, volatile compounds of three attractants were identified by HS-SPME/GC-MS and SDE/GC-MS. Using OAV and PLRS method, it was found that bis(2-methyl-3-furyl) disulfide, indole, methional, 2-(methyl thio) phenol, γ-butyrolacton, furfuryl alcohol, acetic acid and isovaleraldehyde were the key components. Although both T. molitor and L. edodes attractant showed less palatability than that of chicken liver, they could be readily improved via adding key palatable volatile compounds. The ingestion rate of dog food with attractant showed a similar trend and was higher than that of food without attractant., Food analysis; Attractant; Palatability; Flavour analysis; Different protein sources.

Metarhizium sp. are entomopathogenic fungi that inhabit the soil environment. Together, they act as natural pest control factors. In the natural environment, they come into contact with various anthropogenic pollutants, and sometimes, they are used together and interchangeably with chemical insecticides (e.g., neonicotinoids) for pest control. In most cases, the compatibility of entomopathogens with insecticides has been determined, however, the influence of these compounds on the metabolism of entomopathogenic fungi has not yet been studied. Secondary metabolites are very important factors that influence the fitness of the producers, playing important roles in the ability of these pathogens to successfully parasitize insects. In this study, for the first time, we focus on whether the insecticide present in the fungal growth environment affects secondary metabolism in fungi. The research revealed that acetamiprid at concentrations from 5 to 50 mg L&minus, 1 did not inhibit the growth of all tested Metarhizium sp., however, it reduced the level of 19 produced destruxins in direct proportion to the dosage used. Furthermore, it was shown that acetamiprid accumulates not only in plant or animal tissues, but also in fungal cells. Despite the negative impact of acetamiprid on secondary metabolism, it was proofed to accumulate in Metarhizium spores, which appeared to have a stronger infectious potential against mealworm Tenebrio molitor, in comparison to the insecticide or the biological agent alone.

Introducing processed insects in food products is seen as a way to lower the barrier for insect consumption by Western consumers. Prior research indicated that crude insect lipids could partially replace butter in bakery products without influencing consumer's perception, but a complete substitution remained a challenge due to the presence of off-flavors. This study proposes oil deodorization as a means to reduce insect oil off-flavors and increase insect oil replacement in food products. We compared the effect of deodorization of yellow mealworm (YMW, Tenebrio molitor) oil on the partial and total replacement of vegetable oil in crackers and hummus. In total 253 participants joined the study (127 crackers study, 126 hummus study). Each participant evaluated 5 samples, 100% vegetable oil, 100% crude YMW oil, 100% deodorized YMW oil, 50% vegetable & 50% crude YMW oil and 50% vegetable & 50% deodorized YMW oil. Results showed that deodorized YMW oil could replace vegetable oil in both products without changing the overall food experience, liking and visual appearance in the products. In contrast, using crude YMW oil impacted the overall liking and certain sensory attributes, mostly related to flavor. Moreover, the use of deodorized YMW eliminated visual differences amongst the products. When YMW oil was used in a dispersion-like food, such as hummus, a less firm, more spreadable and less sticky hummus was obtained. Crude YMW oil also reduced hardness in low-moisture solid foods, such as crackers but further studies are necessary to fully understand this effect.

In the present trial, 160 heavy-size male broiler chickens were allocated to 4 dietary treatments (control feed [C] and 5, 10 and 15% TM meal inclusion, respectively, with 5 replicate pens/treatment and 8 birds/pen) to evaluate the influence of TM meal on intestinal microbiota and mucin composition. The broiler chickens fed TM-based diets showed higher beta diversity of their cecal microbiota in comparison with the C birds (p &lt, 0.001). A significant decrease of the relative abundance of Firmicutes phylum and lower Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratios (False Discovery Rate [FDR] &lt, 0.05) were also identified in TM15 broiler chickens when compared to the C group. Furthermore, the TM birds showed decreased relative abundance of Clostridium, Coprococcus, L-Ruminococcus and Ruminococcus genera (FDR &lt, 0.05). In relation to the gut mucin composition, higher mucin staining intensity was detected in the intestinal crypts of TM5 birds in comparison with the other TM groups (p &lt, 0.05). In conclusion, dietary TM meal inclusion negatively influenced the cecal microbiota of heavy-size broiler chickens in terms of partial alteration of the physiological microbial population and reduction of the potential beneficial bacteria (with slightly more pronounced effects when testing the 10&ndash, 15% inclusion levels).

Pentaminomycins C&ndash, E (1&ndash, 3) were isolated from the culture of the Streptomyces sp. GG23 strain from the guts of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor. The structures of the pentaminomycins were determined to be cyclic pentapeptides containing a modified amino acid, N5-hydroxyarginine, based on 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of the amino acid residues were assigned using Marfey&rsquo, s method and bioinformatics analysis of their nonribosomal peptide biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC). Detailed analysis of the BGC enabled us to propose that the structural variations in 1&ndash, 3 originate from the low specificity of the adenylation domain in the nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) module 1, and indicate that macrocyclization can be catalyzed noncanonically by penicillin binding protein (PBP)-type TE. Furthermore, pentaminomycins C and D (1 and 2) showed significant autophagy-inducing activities and were cytoprotective against oxidative stress in vitro.

IKK&gamma, /NEMO is the regulatory subunit of the I&kappa, B kinase (IKK) complex, which regulates the NF-&kappa, B signaling pathway. Within the IKK complex, IKK&gamma, /NEMO is the non-catalytic subunit, whereas IKK&alpha, and IKK&beta, are the structurally related catalytic subunits. In this study, TmIKK&gamma, was screened from the Tenebrio molitor RNA-Seq database and functionally characterized using RNAi screening for its role in regulating T. molitor antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes after microbial challenges. The TmIKK&gamma, transcript is 1521 bp that putatively encodes a polypeptide of 506 amino acid residues. TmIKK&gamma, contains a NF-&kappa, B essential modulator (NEMO) and a leucine zipper domain of coiled coil region 2 (LZCC2). A phylogenetic analysis confirmed its homology to the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum IKK&gamma, (TcIKK&gamma, ). The expression of TmIKK&gamma, mRNA showed that it might function in diverse tissues of the insect, with a higher expression in the hemocytes and the fat body of the late-instar larvae. TmIKK&gamma, mRNA expression was induced by Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans challenges in the whole larvae and in tissues such as the hemocytes, gut and fat body. The knockdown of TmIKK&gamma, mRNA significantly reduced the survival of the larvae after microbial challenges. Furthermore, we investigated the tissue-specific induction patterns of fourteen T. molitor AMP genes in TmIKK&gamma, mRNA-silenced individuals after microbial challenges. In general, the mRNA expression of TmTenecin1, -2, and -4, TmDefensin1 and -2, TmColeoptericin1 and 2, and TmAttacin1a, 1b, and 2 were found to be downregulated in the hemocytes, gut, and fat body tissues in the TmIKK&gamma, silenced individuals after microbial challenges. Under similar conditions, TmRelish (NF-&kappa, B transcription factor) mRNA was also found to be downregulated. Thus, TmIKK&gamma, is an important factor in the antimicrobial innate immune response of T. molitor.

Synthetic insecticides are widely used for crop protection both in the fields and in the food stored facilities. Due to their toxicity, and assumptions of Integrated Pest Management, we conducted two independent experiments, where we studied the influence of Solanum nigrum unripe fruit extract on the toxicity of an organophosphorus insecticide fenitrothion. In the first variant of the experiment, Tenebrio molitor larvae were fed with blended fenitrothion (LC50) and the extract in four concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10%) in ratio 1:1 for 3 days. In the second variant, a two-day application of fenitrothion (LC40) was preceded by a one-day extract treatment. The first variant did not show any increase in lethality compared to fenitrothion, however, ultrastructure observations exhibited swollen endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes in the midgut and nuclear and cellular membranes in the fat body, after application of blended fenitrothion and extract. An increased amount of heterochromatin in the fat body was observed, too. In the second variant, pre-treatment of the extract increased the lethality of larvae, decreased the level of glycogen and lipids in the fat body and disrupted integrity of midgut cellular membranes. S. nigrum extract, applied prior to fenitrothion treatment can be a factor increasing fenitrothion toxicity in T. molitor larvae. Thus, this strategy may lead to decreased emission of synthetic insecticides to the environment.

Edible insects are considered as a promising and sustainable alternative protein source for humans, although risk assessments, with particular reference to the allergic potential of insect proteins, are required. Considering that insects are likely to be consumed after processing, it is crucial to assess how processing can influence allergenicity. In our study, we investigated how boiling and frying affect the IgE cross-recognition of proteins from five edible insects (mealworm, buffalo worm, silkworm, cricket and grasshopper). We considered three groups of Italian patients allergic to shrimps and to house dust mites, who had never consumed insects before and two subjects with occupational allergy and food sensitization to mealworm. Our data suggest that thermal processing may change the solubility of proteins, thereby resulting in a protein shift from water-soluble fractions to water-insoluble fractions. Immunoblot and LC-MS/MS analyses have shown that tropomyosin may play an important role as a cross-allergen for house dust mite and shrimp allergic patients, while larval cuticle protein seems to play a major role in the cross-reactivity of patients primarily sensitized to mealworm. On the basis of our results, the effects of processing appear to be protein-, species- and treatment-specific. Therefore, house dust mite, shrimp and mealworm allergic patients should consume insects with caution, even after thermal processing.