Fat is the second most abundant component of the nutrient composition of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) that represents also an interesting source of PUFA, especially n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, involved in prevention of cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the possibility of modifying the fat content and the FA composition of yellow mealworms through feeding and how this would be influenced by developmental stages, pupal sex, and generation with the future aim of applying this coleopteran as a diet supplement for human health. Growth rate and cumulative mortality percentage on the different feeding substrates were also evaluated to select the optimal conditions for a mass-raising of this insect species. Despite the different fat content in the six different breeding substrates used, T. molitor larvae and pupae contained a constant fat percentage (>34% in larvae and >30% in pupae). A similar total fat content was found comparing larvae and male and female pupae of the second generation to those of the first generation. On the contrary, FA composition differed both in larvae and pupae reared on the different feeding substrates. However, the exemplars reared on the diets based on 100% bread and 100% oat flour showed SFA, PUFA percentages, and an n-6/n-3 ratio more suitable for human consumption; the diet based on beer yeast, wheat flour, and oat flour resulted in a contemporary diet that most satisfied the balance between a fat composition of high quality and favorable growth conditions.
h i g h l i g h t s Rhynchophorus species are polyphagous and some are pests of several palm species. We reviewed their natural enemies in both their native and introduced regions. More than 50 natural enemies have been reported to attack Rhynchophorus species. Fungi are the most promising ones for biological control.
The attractiveness of different combinations of volatile compounds to several scolytid and cerambycid species, potential vectors of phytoparasitic nematodes of the genus Bursaphelenchus Fuchs, was investigated in pine woods of central Italy. The blend composed of α-pinene, ethanol, ipsenol, ipsdienol and 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol was very efficient in trapping the cerambycids Monochamus galloprovincialis, Acanthocinus griseus and Arhopalus syriacus and the scolytids Ips sexdentatus, Orthotomicus erosus and Hylurgus ligniperda. This blend is proposed for operational surveys of Bursaphelenchus spp. associated with these beetles. Comparison of the capture levels with cross-vane and funnel traps baited with α-pinene, ethanol, ipsenol, ipsdienol, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and cis-verbenol revealed the higher efficacy of the cross-vane traps for the abovementioned cerambycids and the scolytid I. sexdentatus but greater effectiveness of the funnel traps in capturing H. ligniperda and O. erosus. Cross-vane traps were more efficient in capturing large numbers of these insects. Data on non-target xylophagous beetles and predator species are also reported.
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