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Simple Summary: Yellow mealworm farming (Tenebrio molitor, Linnaeus, 1758) for food and feed is considered a more sustainable protein production method than livestock farming. Diets have an impact on the environmental and economic sustainability of the entire production cycle; as a result, there is a great interest in by-product-based diets. However, most evaluations of the efficacy of new diets are generally focused on larval performance, neglecting their suitability for the oviposition phase. The aim of this study was to validate diets supplemented with tomato pomace over a full breeding cycle. As an oviposition substrate, all the tomato pomace-supplemented diets outperformed the bran-yeast control diet (95:5 ratio). During the larval growth phase, the bran-tomato pomace-brewer's spent grain diet and the bran-tomato pomace-yeast diet performed similarly to the control diet supplemented with yeast. These diets were found to be suitable for the entire production cycle, demonstrating their efficacy in supporting larval growth. In conclusion, tomato pomace can be a valuable by-product in developing effective diets for T. molitor, most likely due to its contribution to sterols and fatty acids. Furthermore, its use could provide an alternative to the costly yeast-based supplement. By-product-based diets have the potential to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758) production. However, evaluations of the efficacy of new diets are generally focused on larval performance, while the effect on adults is poorly understood. This aim of this study was to evaluate diets enriched with tomato pomace over a complete breeding cycle. The results showed that when used as an oviposition substrate, all the tested diets, including tomato pomace (T), outperformed the control bran-yeast diet (WY, 95:5 ratio), possibly due to the presence of cholesterol and linoleic acid. The adults fed with the bran-tomato pomace-brewer's spent grain diet (WTB, 50:27:23 ratio), the bran-tomato pomace-yeast diet (WTY, 50:41:9 ratio), and the bran-tomato pomace diet (WT, 50:50 ratio) produced significantly more larvae than those fed with the WY diet. The WTB diet (despite being yeast-free) performed similarly to the WY control diet during the subsequent larval growth phase, making it suitable for the entire production cycle. In conclusion, the results show that tomato pomace can be used a valid by-product in the formulation of efficient diets for the breeding of T. molitor and also provide an alternative to expensive yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural practices, particularly land use, inputs and soil management, have a significant impact on the carbon cycle. Good management of agricultural practices may reduce carbon emissions and increase soil carbon sequestration. In this context, organic agricultural practices may have a positive role in mitigating environmental burden. Organic olive cultivation is increasing globally, particularly in Italy, which is ranked first worldwide for both organic olive production and cultivated area. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of agricultural practices in organic and conventional olive systems on global warming potential (GWP) from a life cycle perspective and to identify the hot spots in each system. The impacts assessed were associated with the efficiency of both systems at sequestering soil in order to calculate the net carbon flux. There was a higher environmental impact on GWP in the organic system because of higher global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from manure fertilisation rather than the synthetic foliar fertilisers used in the conventional system. However, manure was the main reason behind the higher soil organic carbon (SOC) content and soil carbon sequestration in the organic system. Fertilisation activity was the main contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for approximately 80% of total emissions in the organic system and 45% in the conventional system. Conversely, given the similarity of other factors (land use, residues management, soil cover) that may affect soil carbon content, manure was the primary contributor to increased SOC in the organic system, resulting in a higher efficiency of carbon sequestration in the soil following the addition of soil organic matter. The contribution of the manure to increased SOC compensated for the higher carbon emission from the organic system, resulting in higher negative net carbon flux in the organic versus the conventional system (-1.7 vs -0.52 t C [ha.sup.-1] [year.sup.-1], respectively) and higher efficiency of C[O.sub.2] mitigation in the organic system. Additional keywords: global warming potential, greenhouses gas emissions, net carbon flux, soil organic carbon., Introduction Atmospheric concentrations of C[O.sub.2] are increasing yearly at a rate of 0.5% (IPCC 1995) because of fossil fuel combustion, cement manufacturing and changes in carbon (C) sequestration caused by [...]

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The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive insect pest that has caused significant economic losses in a myriad of agricultural crops in Europe and the USA. The communication as well as the control of this pest largely rely on semiochemicals (e.g., pheromones) and semiophysicals (e.g., substrate‐borne vibrations). Nevertheless, the nocturnal activity of H. halys is still largely unknown. In the present study, the diel vibrational communication of H. halys was investigated in controlled laboratory and semi‐field conditions. Moreover, the relevance of this ecological trait for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies was assessed by extending playback periods of bimodal (i.e., pheromones + vibrational playbacks) traps to 24 h, and comparing it to the current trap model (solar panel, about 12 h of playback) and a control (no playback, only pheromone). We found that H. halys did not exhibit discernible differences of vibrational activity between photophase and scotophase, with the exception of signal type 2 that in laboratory conditions was predominately emitted within nocturnal and morning hours (i.e., 20:00–12:00). Additionally, the calling activity was negatively affected by warmer (>32 °C) and windier (>7 m s−1) conditions in semi‐field settings. Bimodal traps that were power‐supplied for 24 h captured significantly more males than the other groups, and more females than the control group. Results suggest that the nocturnal vibrational activity of H. halys should be accounted for within IPM strategies by activating the bimodal traps also during the scotophase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasive alien stink bug Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), native to eastern‐southern Africa and central‐southern Asia, poses significant economic threats to agroecosystems due to its polyphagous diet with a preference for brassicaceous crops. Current control methods using broad‐spectrum insecticides are expensive and often result in significant negative ecological impacts, as well as posing a health risk to consumers. This study provides a detailed description of the mating behavior of B. hilaris, with the aim to ascertain whether substrate‐borne vibrations have a role in premating phases. Such knowledge may contribute to the development of alternative biorational control techniques employing vibrational strategies. Virgin adults were tested individually or in pairs on different substrates, that is, a loudspeaker membrane and a bean plant. Vibrations emitted by males and females were recorded using a laser Doppler vibrometer, and the following spectral and temporal parameters were analyzed: fundamental frequency, emission time, repetition time, and signal modulation. Three distinct types of vibration emitted by males and females were identified: a male vibrotype (MV‐1), a female vibrotype (FV), and a copula signal exclusively emitted by males (MS‐2). MV‐1 and FV were emitted prior to genitalia contact, whereas MS‐2 was emitted within the mounting and engagement phases. Statistical analysis revealed significant transitions in behavioral phases for couples that achieved mating. By analyzing the walking behavior, there was an inverse relationship between motility and signal emission when comparing the two sexes, which suggests that males might engage in a form of searching behavior. These findings provide insight into the crucial role of vibrational communication to achieve mating in B. hilaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]