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Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) is a significant pest of cactus pear species worldwide. Over the past seven years, there has been growing interest in its distribution, impact, and the effectiveness of its primary predator, Hyperaspis trifurcata Schaeffer, as a biocontrol agent. This study investigates the feeding potential and population growth parameters of the ladybird H. trifurcata, fed on D. opuntiae at different constant temperatures (23–35 °C). The developmental times of H. trifurcata decreased significantly with increasing temperature. The highest pre-adult survival (80%) and the highest proportion of females (43%) were recorded at 25 °C, and the lowest were recorded at 35 °C. The probability of survival to adult stage was highest at 25 °C for both females (43%) and males (39%). The predator individuals at 25 and 30 °C were more reproductive and survivable than those at other temperatures. The total preoviposition period significantly reduced with increasing temperature from 23 to 35 °C, while the mean oviposition period varied from 28.2 days at 35 °C to 36.2 days at 25 °C. The mean total fecundity was highest at 25 °C (388.5 eggs/female). The intrinsic rate of increase was highest at 30 °C (0.117 d− 1), followed by 25 °C (0.108 d− 1), while the lowest value (0.072 d− 1) was observed at 23 °C. The feeding efficiency of H. trifurcata significantly increased with the progression of each developmental stage, with fourth instar larvae and adults being the most voracious feeders on various cochineal instars. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing rearing conditions and utilizing H. trifurcata effectively as a biological control agent against D. opuntiae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus) and Hippodamia convergens (Guérin Méneville) are important predators of many pests of agricultural crop importance. Feeding these predators with artificial diets (ADs) is an important means to achieve large-scale production. In this study, the effects of five different artificial diets on the development, survival and reproduction of the two predators were evaluated under laboratory conditions (26 ± 2 °C, 60% RH, and 12:12 (L:D) h). The artificial diets consisted of various main ingredients, including barley flour (BF-AD), soybean flour (SF-AD), potato flour (PF-AD), frozen aphids (FA-AD), and milk powder (MP-AD). Both predators successfully underwent their entire development on all of these formulated artificial diets. The results of this study show that the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae (Scopoli)) and artificial diets SF-AD and PF-AD appear to be the most suitable for mass rearing of the predators. These diets decreased the total pre-adult development period, increased female and male longevity, significantly increased larval and pupal survival rates, adult emergence and weight, oviposition period, and fecundity, and significantly decreased the pre-oviposition period compared to the other artificial diets tested. Similarly, the data showed that the highest values of growth index and success index were obtained with the predators fed the black bean aphid diet (9.6–15.0 and 1.0–1.0, respectively), followed by artificial diets SF-AD (9.1–13.5 and 0.9-1.0, respectively) and PF-AD (8.3–10.7 and 0.8–0.9, respectively). The artificial diets, particularly SF-AD and PF-AD, can be used for mass rearing of C. septempunctata and H. convergens for biological control applications and adult rearing during aphids scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect chitin was isolated from different life stages of the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens, such as instar stages, prepupae and pupae, reared separately on fruit and vegetable waste substrates after removal of fat, protein and minerals. Chitin yield was high in prepupae fed with vegetable waste (11.78 ± 0.13%) followed by fruit waste (6.82 ± 0.36%). The extracted chitin was compared with a commercial chitin from shrimp by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The results revealed that both chitins from commercial shrimp source and the H. illucens had similar chemical structures and physicochemical properties indicating the H. illucens chitin samples to be of α- chitin orientation type. With regards to the H. illucens samples, small physiochemical changes were noticed. Furthermore, the polymers derived from BSF are equivalent to commercial polymers in terms of purity and structural morphology, indicating their utility for industrial and medical applications. Thus, H. illucens prepupae is a promising alternative source of chitin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acacia saligna is a multi-purpose tree. However, enquiries exist among beekeepers on its importance for honeybees in Tigray region of Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of A. saligna pollen on Apis mellifera adult worker bees. Feeding trial was conducted on honeybee collected polyfloral pollen (PFP), honeybee collected A. saligna pollen (HCAP) and manually collected A. saligna pollen dust (MCAP) at various level of inclusion. The HCAP and MCAP pollen types were mixed with PFP pollen at a ratio of 1:4, 3:2 and 1:0 to make seven pollen feed treatments. Newly hatched day-old cohort worker bees were collected from one colony and trapped from the sealed brood with a meshed plastic bag before hatching. A ten-day indoor cage experiment was carried out after setting up twenty worker bees per cage. The result showed no statistically significant difference on worker bee mortality and abnormality due to treatment diets, except that higher level of A. saligna pollen inclusion (> 60%) in the diet reduced intake. Secondary metabolites analysis showed higher alkaloids (4.8%) in PFP, total flavonoids of 29.66 mg QE/g in HCAP and 20.61 mg GAE/g phenol in MCAP. The finding implied A.saligna has apicultural value as dry season pollen source rather than considering it as poisonous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lepidopteron stemborer (Chilo partellus) and parasitic Striga weed (Striga hermonthica) caused major yield losses in subsistence sorghum production in the Eastern Amhara Region, Ethiopia. This study evaluated different number of Brachiaria (Mulato II) rows planted around sorghum plots. Desmodium intortum intercropped with sorghum in each Brachiaria row. The study was conducted on 61 farmers' fields in 2017 and 2018. The treatments were arranged as one row Brachiaria + Desmodium, two rows Brachiaria + Desmodium, three rows Brachiaria + Desmodium and mono-sorghum. The pooled two years and three locations data showed a significant difference (P < 0.001) between push-pull and mono-sorghum plots. Sorghum damage of 17.2%, 16.4%, 33.6% in three, two and one rows of Brachiaria, respectively. The mean number of Striga was significantly reduced in push-pull plots (3 Striga/m2) as compared to mono-sorghum plots (15 Striga/m2). In addition, significantly high sorghum grain yields were recorded in three rows (4.5 t /ha) and two rows (3.7 t/ha) of Brachiaria. Yield increments of 104.2% and 62.2% and 50.0% over mono-sorghum were recorded in three, two rows and one row of Brachiaria, respectively. In addition to sorghum yield increment, farmers were able to get a dry biomass yield of 1.7-24.6 t/ha in different rows of Brachiaria and 0.47-2.43 t/ha of Desmodium for their livestock feed. The three rows of Brachiaria were superior to the other rows, but farmers could also use the two rows as an alternative option with the combination intercropped Desmodium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) is rapidly becoming a new sustainable ingredient. Currently, there is no information on purging BSFL and consequently their nutritional profile. In the first part of this study, the BSFL urea/ammonia content along with proximate, fatty acid and amino acids were examined when food was withdrawn at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h. After 3 h, urea content linearly increased until 24 h, while ammonia also increased linearly, but then decreased by 24 h. Total amino acids and total fatty acids gradually decreased and increased over time, respectively. At 3 and 6 h, butyric and acetic acid significantly decreased, respectively. In a follow-up separate study, providing coconut fibers mitigated the ammonia/urea increases within 48 h. Results indicate that the nutritional profile of BSFL reduces over time and thus should be processed immediately. Further research should explore the possibility of nutrient loading prior to harvest and more effective ways for purging BSFL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are useful as food, feed, and raw materials for industries; but commercial farming and utilization of insects as raw material for the industries in Nigeria are rare. This research identified the roles of extension services in the commercialization and utilization of insect resources in Nigeria. Extension services have been used to foster agricultural development in the past, its application is greatly needed in insect production and utilization in Nigeria. Many insects are consumed in each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, the majority of them are sourced from the wild. Research outcomes had shown the successful inclusion of insects as livestock feed in Nigeria but there are no known large insect farms in the country. We highlighted some edible insect species with the potential to be reared in commercial quantities in Nigeria. Issues arising on the ethics, acceptance, health, safety, and cultural values of Edible insects require a more coordinated program such as extension services to be better understood by the farmers and the communities at large. Extension services (ES) will play a role in promoting edible insects if adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has escalated into a global problem owing to its devastating impact on agriculture and food security. More specifically, climate change has triggered extreme weather events which have affected the overall agricultural sustainability, either negatively or positively, with the former outdoing the latter. This has led to a concomitant nutritional imbalance and health challenges in the human population, particularly in developing countries. Further, a nutritional imbalance and high feed prices is being felt in the animal feed production chain, due to over reliance on conventional raw material and/or ingredients, which further negatively affects livelihood incomes. Edible insects have recently gained a lot of attention, as one of the strategies to curb food/feed and nutrition insecurity due to its several already documented benefits. This review discusses how climate change has affected food and cash crop production, together with animal production, the resulting human nutritional imbalances and the impact climate change has on edible insects. Several factors on the benefits of promotion and adoption of edible insects as food and feed have also been discussed, with an inclination towards their role in curbing global warming, while alleviating the global challenge of food and nutrition insecurity, currently and in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for alternative feed sources for livestock has evolved, owing to quest for efficient and sustainable use of resource channeled towards achieving food security. Breeding and biomass conversion of selected insects therefore, is imperative to complement existing sources. This study investigated the developmental parameters, and nutritional composition of Black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) larvae reared on chicken feed (CF), brewery waste (BW), food remains (FR) and fruits' waste (FR). Proximate compositions (%) of prepupae and substrates were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extracts (EE), ash, fibre and mineral composition. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests and Tukey (homoscedasticity) using SPSS statistical package. CF recorded the highest prepupal weight (0.30 g), length (2.18 cm), and shortest development time (21 days) across the different substrates. CP content was highest in prepupa fed on CF and BW at 48.93% and 44.52% respectively (p < 0.05). The ash contents and EE of the prepupae differed significantly across the different substrates. Prepupae reared on CF were low in EE and high in ash content (4.12% and 9.24%, respectively) compared to those reared on FW (13.90% and 5.24%, respectively), BW (11.23% and 10.29%, respectively) and FR (9.52% and 5.24, respectively). BSF larvae fed on different substrates exhibited different mineral accumulation patterns, with FW resulting in the largest turnover of minerals (Potassium 46.94 g/kg). The rearing of BSF larvae can be optimized on identified organic substrates into edible biomass suitable for use as an alternative protein source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prickly-pear cactus Opuntia ficus-indica L. is grown throughout Morocco and has an important economic role as a source of food, animal feed and income for rural populations. However, currently this crop is suffering from attack by the wild cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae, which has caused huge production losses. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of five botanical extracts and a detergent for the control of nymphs and adult females of D. opuntiae in laboratory bioassays and field conditions. Under laboratory conditions, the detergent black soap at 60 g/l caused 100% mortality of D. opuntiae adult females and nymphs, 48 h after treatment. Capsicum annuum fruit extract at 10% gave 100% mortality of nymphs at 96 h after application and 56% mortality of adult females at 192 h after treatment. Under field conditions, black soap at 60 g/l applied in combination with C. annuum at 200 g/l caused the highest mortality on adult females (87.31%) at 168 h after application, and 84.9% on nymphs at 72 h after treatment. The black soap at 60 g/l had the greatest impact on mortality of D. opuntiae nymphs and adult females when applied at low to medium levels of D. opuntiae infestation. The double application of black soap at 60 g/l over a 3-day spray interval significantly increased the mortality of adult females up to 82.5% at 3 days after the second application. These findings showed that the use of the biodegradable products, black soap at 60 g/l in double application or in combination with C. annuum extract at 200 g/l, could be incorporated in the management package for the control of D. opuntiae as a safe alternative to chemical insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]