evaluation of various commodities for the development of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor christos i. Rumbos 1,2 , ioannis t. Karapanagiotidis 2 , eleni Mente 2 , pier psofakis 2 & christos G. Athanassiou 1* We evaluated the suitability of forty-four commodities (i.e., cereal flours and meals, non-flour, cereal commodities, legumes and various commodities of vegetative and animal origin) as oviposition and feeding substrates for the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor. Τen T. molitor adults were introduced in plastic vials containing 30 g of each commodity. At the end of the 1 week period, all adults were removed, and mortality was determined; then the vials were further incubated for additional 9 weeks. After this time, the vials were opened, and the larvae of each vial were separated from the feeding substrate, counted and weighed as a group. The efficiency of ingested food conversion was calculated for each substrate. finally, proximate composition was calculated to determine the nutrient components of the feeding substrates tested and the T. molitor larvae that fed on various selected substrates. in general, adult reproduction was clearly favoured by most amylaceous substrates tested, which was in contrast to the tested legumes on which fewer offspring were produced. Similar effects were observed for larval development. feeding on selected substrates exerted an impact on the nutrient composition of T. molitor larvae, with a high protein content of the substrate usually resulting in a high protein content of the larvae. Over the last few years, "insect farming" has attracted considerable scientific attention, as insects are considered an alternative and sustainable nutrient source for animal feed and human food 1-5. Among the most promising insect species for industrial utilization and commercial large-scale production is the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). This species is one of the largest stored-product beetles (adult body length between 12 and 20 mm) that is commonly found infesting stored agricultural products 6. It is a cosmopolitan stored product insect pest that is found in various types of facilities and commodities, mainly grains and related amylaceous commodities, such as flour, bran and pasta 6. Nevertheless, there is strong interest in its utilization as a food source for humans and animals, including fish 1. This is because T. molitor larvae are highly nutritious with high protein and lipid contents 7,8. Because of their nutritional value, the larvae of T. molitor are commonly used as feed for pets (e.g., reptiles and birds) 9 , whereas they have been successfully evaluated as a feed ingredient in pig 10 and poultry diets 11,12 , as well as in artificial diets for the mass-rearing of beneficial organisms, such as the predatory lady beetle, Coleomegilla maculata De Geer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) 13. Recently, T. molitor was included in the list of insect species that are allowed to be used as ingredients in fish feeds in the EU 14 , whereas its exploitation f...

The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is one of the most common insect pests in commercial poultry farms, where it reproduces within the litter floor, feeding on poultry manure, spilled feed and other organic material. It can also infest, feed and reproduce on stored grains and related amylaceous commodities. Its significance is related mostly with the fact that it serves as reservoir and vector for many pathogens that cause serious diseases, such as Salmonella, Escherichia and various viruses. Recently, A. diaperinus attracted a lot attention as it was listed in the EU Regulation 2017/893 among the insect species that are allowed to be used for the production of insect meal as aquafeed ingredient, changing our perspective on this insect from a noxious pest to a potential nutrient source. This is the first review on A. diaperinus summarizing the significant recent findings in its biology and control. Moreover, this review aims to provide a helpful tool for aquaculture scientists working with A. diaperinus as aquafeed ingredient. Therefore, we gather and highlight the available data that classify A. diaperinus as a promising insect-based protein provider and we comment and discuss on the public concerns that arise from its utilization as feed.

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The aim of this review is to compile up-to-date information on the superworm, Zophobas morio (F.), regarding its biology and ecology, but also its further potential for use as a nutrient source for food and feed. We illustrate certain basic characteristics of the morphology and bio-ecology of this species, which is marginally considered as a ‘pest’ in durable amylaceous commodities. More recent data show that Z. morio can be a valuable nutrient and antimicrobial source that could be utilized further in insect-based feed and food production. The inclusion of this species in aquafeed has provided promising results in a wide range of feeding trials, both in terms of fish development and health. Additional data illustrate its potential for use in poultry, indicating that this species provides comparable results with those of other insect species that are used in feed. Moreover, Z. morio can be a viable waste management agent. This review aims to summarize the available data and underline data gaps for future research, toward the potential of the utilization of Z. morio for human food and animal feed. Based on the data presented, Z. morio appears to be a well-promising insect-based protein source, which potential still remains to be unfold.

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