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Revised and Updated Second Edition
Volume 6/2 of the Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera focuses on the second part of the beetle superfamily Chrysomeloidea reported from the Palaearctic biogeographic region. For the genus and species-groups taxa all relevant names are given and all nomenclatural data are cross-checked and the distribution of species and subspecies is given per country or smaller region. A group of 14 experts have worked to collect data based on a critical review of published sources including a significant amount of new information. This volume is also a tool for specialists as well as amateurs, which warrants unambiguous communication.
Revised and Updated Second Edition
Volume 6/2 of the Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera focuses on the second part of the beetle superfamily Chrysomeloidea reported from the Palaearctic biogeographic region. For the genus and species-groups taxa all relevant names are given and all nomenclatural data are cross-checked and the distribution of species and subspecies is given per country or smaller region. A group of 14 experts have worked to collect data based on a critical review of published sources including a significant amount of new information. This volume is also a tool for specialists as well as amateurs, which warrants unambiguous communication.
Abstract
A digestibility study with laying hens was carried out to determine the nutritional value of a commercial and representative (batch to batch variance adjusted) insect meal based on Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae, (from black soldier fly) which was the objective in this study. A basal diet (BD; CP 15%), formulated and fed as such and an experimental diet (HD; CP 21%) consisting of BD with inclusion of 18% of the HI meal were used in the study. The BD and HD were fed to eight and six replicate metabolic cages, respectively, with eight Dekalb White laying hens each from 25 to 27 weeks of age. Diets (pelleted with TiO2 as marker) and water were available for ad libitum intake. Excreta was collected during the last three days to determine AMEn and apparent total tract faecal nutrient digestibility coefficients (ATTDC). Distal ileal content was collected at the last day of the experiment to determine apparent ileal amino acids digestibility of diets and HI meal. Using table values for endogenous losses standardised ileal amino acids digestibility coefficient (SIDC) of HI meal were also calculated. Analysed nutrients (g/kg) in HI meal were: 47 moisture, 529 crude protein, 71 ash, 135 fat and thus 218 was calculated as carbohydrates. Determined AME AMEn for HI meal was 3,846 kcal/kg dry matter (DM) and AMEn was 3,498 3,671 kcal/kg DM and ATTDC AFD for crude protein, crude fat and carbohydrates was 0.830, 0.940 and 0.680, respectively. Average SID coefficient for the 18 amino acids was 0.861 86.1%. Among indispensable amino acids SIDC ranged from 0.790% for threonine to 0.950% for phenylalanine and was 0.840% for lysine. These findings highlight that HI meal is an interesting alternative protein source for soybean meal (SBM). Besides market prices and availability, demands for more sustainable poultry production will determine the use of HI meals as alternative for SBM in poultry diets in the near future, especially in regions where SBM is imported from overseas.
Abstract
The Asian giant hornet, Vespa magnifica is an edible insect fondly eaten in larval and adult stage in maximum ethnic communities of the Northeast India especially in Manipur state. The nutritional and anti-nutritional aspects of V. magnifica revealed high protein (31.1%, 38.4%), fat (22.0%, 8.13%), carbohydrates (1.67%, 0.72%) and fibre (0.69%, 4.34%) content in both larval and adult stage respectively. The results exhibited that consumption of 100 gram of V. magnifica in larval and adult stage provided optimal amount of energy (329.1 and 229.7 kcal, respectively). Iron, potassium, calcium, sodium, and phosphorus are the most prevalent minerals found in the edible hymenopteran that can be used as supplementary food to human diets. The IC50% of adults (0.701 mg/ml) exhibited lower value than larvae (0.813 mg/ml) expressing its stronger antioxidant properties than larval hymenopteran. Low levels of anti-nutritional components such as phenol (38.7 and 30.3 mg/g) and tannin (50.0 and 24.5 mg/g) have established the insects’ non-toxic character when taken as part of a human diet. The insect is widely available in Manipur local markets but at a very high price and great demand. It has the potential to support economic upliftment, nutrition and food security along with sustainable impact on environment.
Authors:
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Abstract
Insects are increasingly considered as a relevant alternative protein source in the transition to a more circular economy and more sustainable food production. Understanding the profitability of insect farms is crucial for starting entrepreneurs, established rearers, and third parties. In this study we analysed the revenues and expenses of seven T. molitor farms in the Netherlands, representing approximately a quarter of the total sector. We calculated their gross margin and net present value. Revenues came from the sales of fresh larvae and insect frass, and from extension services. Expenses included investments, and non-allocated and variable expenses. Results cover technical and economic results, and a qualitative description of farm operations. The gross margins and net present values ranged from −180 to 2,030 and from −12,359 to 15,535 EUR/tonne fresh larvae production, respectively. The main determinants of T. molitor farms’ profitability included the sales price of larvae, and its labour and substrate expenses. Our estimates can be used by decision making of farmers, credit providers, and policy makers to support the growth of this still very small, but emerging sector.
Authors:
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Abstract
Globally, large amounts of various crops such as cereals, oilseeds, nuts and spices are contaminated with mycotoxins during pre-harvest, postharvest handling, processing and/or storage. Mycotoxin contamination results into economic and health issues, and valorisation options of contaminated crops are urgently needed. The aim of this research was to evaluate whether quality feed and fertilizer can be safely produced from naturally mycotoxin contaminated crops using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens L.) under realistic field conditions in East Africa. Naturally mycotoxin contaminated maize (corn; Zea mays L.) was used as a model due its prevalence as food and feed and utilized by BSFL together with local agri-food by-products at a research facility in Rwanda. To assess the influence of the initial maize mycotoxin contamination and maize inclusion, larval diets with three mycotoxin contamination levels and two maize inclusion levels were tested. BSFL were tolerant against the high mycotoxin concentrations (e.g. 99.4 μg aflatoxin B1 kg dry mass-1) as the presence of mycotoxins in the substrate did not affect BSFL mass at harvest. Product safety was assessed by quantifying the presence of 38 common and emerging mycotoxins and metabolites in the maize, substrates and BSFL products (e.g. larvae and frass). The results show that it is possible to produce feed and fertilizer with BSFL considered safe within the European Union and East African legal limits with maize contaminated with mycotoxins typical for East Africa. Thereby, this research works towards the safe recycling of nutrients from mycotoxin contaminated maize within the food system in East Africa and beyond.
Abstract
Feeding poultry with live insect larvae stimulates natural behaviour and improves poultry welfare, when poultry has prolonged or frequent access to the larvae. But how to feed live insect larvae to poultry without labour-intensive hand feeding? This paper focusses on the development of a device that overcomes this challenge. A circular device was designed with eight storage compartments, which were filled once a day with live Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae (Hermetia illucens). A motor controlled the timed rotation of the device multiple times per day, initiating the release of larvae when a compartment was pushed over an outlet. Every 60 minutes, a new compartment was pushed over the outlet, which means that after eight hours all compartments are emptied. To achieve a gradual release of larvae per storage compartment the device was timed to move every 30 minutes half a storage compartment forward. The larval release was recorded every 5 minutes within the 60 minutes. The device was tested at 18 °C, 24 °C and 30 °C, with 3.4 g and 129.8 g BSF larvae per compartment, and with three different outlet types of different size and shape. The larval release rate was influenced by temperature, amount of larvae, outlet type, and interactions between these factors. After placing a new compartment above the outlet, 50% of the larvae were on average released within 6 minutes. After 60 minutes, on average only 0.5% larvae remained in the compartment. Outlets with wider openings are preferred over the outlet with the narrowest outlet because less larvae remained in the compartments. The dispenser fulfilled the low-labour-intensity requirement as filling was only necessary once a day, the release of different amounts of larvae was achieved over several hours. This automatic dispenser provides a valuable tool to investigate the behaviour of poultry fed with live BSF larvae.
Authors:
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Abstract
Edible insects such as lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) are a promising new protein source for food and feed. The feed substrate on which these insects are reared may be contaminated with residues of insecticides originating from agricultural products that may impact insect performance. In this study, two generations of A. diaperinus were chronically exposed to spinosad (2.0 and 0.2 mg/kg) and imidacloprid (0.1 and 0.01 mg/kg) in the substrate. The aim was to determine sublethal effects on performance measures (total biomass (yield), mean individual weight, number of alive individuals) of larvae, pupae, and adult beetles, as well as pupation and eclosion. Exposure to spinosad at 2.0 mg/kg resulted in significant adverse effects on most performance measures of larvae, of both generations. Imidacloprid caused a reduction in yield and mean individual weight of the larvae as compared to the control at 0.1 mg/kg, while an increase in those measures was observed at 0.01 mg/kg. Significant adverse effects on adult beetles were only observed for imidacloprid at 0.1 mg/kg, and no significant effects of this insecticide on pupation and eclosion were observed. The concentrations of tested substances in larval samples were negligible for both generations, however, transfer from substrate to larval biomass was higher in the offspring generation relative to the parent generation. More research is needed to fully assess the hazard of insecticide residues to cause sublethal effects on A. diaperinus, for which method development for more cost-efficient designs is required.
Abstract
Crickets are being reevaluated as food and livestock feed due to their high nutritional value and low environmental impact during production, as food waste can be used as feed. On the other hand, current cricket production uses feed used in aquaculture and poultry farming, and these feeds contain animal proteins such as fish meal and chicken meal. This is simply converting other animal proteins into insect proteins. Therefore, this study aimed to test whether two-spotted cricket powder can be used as a substitute for fishmeal in diets for Gryllus bimaculatus production. Cricket weight, feed efficiency, and number of crickets were evaluated by feeding rice bran: cricket powder = 85:15 and rice bran: fish meal = 85:15, respectively, referring to the feed mix ratio used by cricket producers. Results showed no statistically significant differences between the two experiments in cricket weight and feed conversion ratio. When data were obtained separately for each growth phase, cricket weight was found to be highest in the fourth post-hatching week for the diet with cricket powder and then decreased (initial input: 1 g; 28 days: 89.45 ± 22.19 g; 35 days: 49.47 ± 14.11 g). Feed conversion efficiency was found to be higher in the second half of growth (1-7 days: 0.48; 23-28 days: 0.80). The use of insect powder as bait for crickets is a new proposal. In cricket production, adults with low reproductive capacity are packaged and sold as food or livestock feed, but by using insect powder as feed during cricket production, it is possible to reduce animal protein in the feed. In the future, we plan to investigate the usefulness of mass-produced insect powder as feed for crickets.
Authors:
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Abstract
Insect value chains are a complex system with non-linear links between many economic, environmental, and social variables. Multi-objective optimization (MOO) algorithms for finding optimal options for complex system functioning can provide a valuable insight in the development of sustainable insect chains. This review proposes a framework for MOO application that is based on gradual implementation, beginning with factors that have an immediate impact on insect production (feed qualities, resource utilization, yield), and progressing to integrated units (environmental, social, and economic impacts). The review introduces the key hotspots of insect production chains, which have been developed in suitable MOO objectives. They represent aspects of resource use, feed quality and its conversion by insects, labor safety and wage fairness, as well as environmental impacts. The capacity of the suggested MOO framework to describe all facets of sustainability may have certain limits. To determine the framework’s applicability and the specific MOO algorithms that can perform the function, modeling and further testing on real insect production chains would be necessary for the intended objectives.
Authors:
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Abstract
Sustainable food system innovations are urgently needed to feed a growing human population while staying within planetary boundaries. Farmed edible insects have received considerable scientific and public attention due to their potential to improve food system circularity by upcycling nutrients from organic residual streams to nutritious food. Earthworms, as non-insect invertebrates, have remained largely unrecognized in the future foods debate. However, they are already widely farmed at industrial scale for their capacity to recycle organic wastes and improve soil fertility. We conducted a systematic literature review to provide a quantitative basis on earthworm nutritional composition, thereby positioning earthworms in the future foods debate. Here we show, based on evidence from 142 scientific studies, that farmed earthworms are a potentially interesting food source. They have an attractive nutrient composition compared to the main farmed edible insect species, being especially rich in protein, low in fat and containing a favourable profile of essential amino acids. The content of important fatty acids, minerals and vitamins in earthworm biomass is higher or lower than in edible insects, depending on the feed material. Crude protein and fat contents are higher in farmed versus wild earthworms, indicating that farming conditions provide a lever for further improving the nutritional composition of earthworm biomass. Whether earthworm species or feed materials affect earthworm nutritional composition could not be finally clarified based on the available data. We conclude that earthworms have high potential as a future food from a nutritional perspective, mainly as an alternative source of protein. The integration of earthworm farming in future food systems can be expected to improve sustainability and circularity, potentially giving earthworms an advantage over edible insects.