Physicochemical properties of edible cricket oils: Implications for use in pharmaceutical and food industries.

The prevailing global market demands locally produced, sustainable oils for biomedical applications. This study focused on evaluating the quality of cricket-derived oils and meals from Scapsipedus icipe Hugel, Tanga, and Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer common delicacy in Africa, following standard methods for physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, and phytochemicals (oxalates, phytates, tannins, and polyphenols). The cricket oils physicochemical properties aligned with Codex Alimentarius standards for edible oils, including low solidification temperature (< 2 °C), a high refractive index (1.46), and a specific gravity of 0.88. Notably, peroxide values (1.9 to 2.5 mg mEq O2/kg), acid values (1.1 to 2.2 mg KOH/g), and saponification values (234-246 mg KOH/g) all are indicative of lightness and unsaturated fatty acids. Nutritionally, cricket powder was rich in protein (56.8-56.9% -) and fat (31.7-33.5% -of dry matter), with significant amounts of essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Predominant saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were palmitic (23.9-31.2 mg/100 g-) and oleic acids (10.9-11.4 mg/100 g- of oil), respectively. Antioxidant values (48.0 to 65.0 mg/100 g), inferred from total polyphenols, suggests a stable oil with long shelf-life. These results highlight the promising and sustainable potential of cricket-derived oils for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Shaping the Microbial Landscape: Parasitoid-Driven Modifications of Bactrocera dorsalis Microbiota.

Koinobiont endoparasitoids regulate the physiology of their hosts through altering host immuno-metabolic responses, processes which function in tandem to shape the composition of the microbiota of these hosts. Here, we employed 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing to investigate whether parasitization by the parasitoid wasps, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmaed) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Psyttalia cosyrae (Wilkinson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), induces gut dysbiosis and differentially alter the gut microbial (bacteria and fungi) communities of an important horticultural pest, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae). We further investigated the composition of bacterial communities of adult D. longicaudata and P. cosyrae to ascertain whether the adult parasitoids and parasitized host larvae share microbial taxa through transmission. We demonstrated that parasitism by D. longicaudata induced significant gut perturbations, resulting in the colonization and increased relative abundance of pathogenic gut bacteria. Some pathogenic bacteria like Stenotrophomonas and Morganella were detected in both the guts of D. longicaudata-parasitized B. dorsalis larvae and adult D. longicaudata wasps, suggesting a horizontal transfer of microbes from the parasitoid to the host. The bacterial community of P. cosyrae adult wasps was dominated by Arsenophonus nasoniae, whereas that of D. longicaudata adults was dominated by Paucibater spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Parasitization by either parasitoid wasp was associated with an overall reduction in fungal diversity and evenness. These findings indicate that unlike P. cosyrae which is avirulent to B. dorsalis, parasitization by D. longicaudata induces shifts in the gut bacteriome of B. dorsalis larvae to a pathobiont-dominated community. This mechanism possibly enhances its virulence against the pest, further supporting its candidacy as an effective biocontrol agent of this frugivorous tephritid fruit fly pest.

Impact of temperature on the bionomics and geographical range margins of the two-spotted field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus in the world: Implications for its mass farming.

Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is widely considered an excellent nutrient source for food and feed. Despite its economic importance, there is limited information on the impact of temperature on the bionomics of this cricket to guide its effective and sustainable mass production in its geographical range. The biological parameters of G. bimaculatus were investigated at eight different temperatures ranging from 20-40˚C. The Insect Life-Cycle Modelling (ILCYM) program was used to fit linear and non-linear functions to the data to describe the influence of temperature on life history parameters and its farmability under the current and projected climate for 2050. Our results revealed that G. bimaculatus was able to complete its lifecycle in the temperature range of 20°C to 37°C with a maximum finite rate of population increase (= 1.14) at 35°C. The developmental time of G. bimaculatus decreased with increasing temperature. The least developmental time and mortality were attained at 32°C. The highest wet length and mass of G. bimaculatus occurred at 32°C. The lowest temperature threshold for G. bimaculatus egg and nymph development was approximated using linear regression functions to be at 15.9°C and 16.2°C with a temperature constant of 108.7 and 555.6 degree days. The maximum fecundity (2301.98 eggs per female), net reproductive rate (988.42 daughters/ generation), and intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.134 days) were recorded at 32°C and the shortest doubling of 5.2 days was observed at 35°C. Based on our findings G. bimaculatus can be farmed in countries with temperatures ranging between 20 and 37°C around the globe. These findings will help the cricket farmers understand and project the cricket population dynamics around the world as influenced by temperature, and as such, will contribute to more efficient farming.

Validating Indigenous Farmers' Practice in the Management of the Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) in Maize Cropping Systems in Africa.

Before the invasion of the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda into Africa, smallholder farmers had been using indigenous practices such as applying fish soup to plants to manage stemborer pests. Although farmers have since begun adapting this practice against FAW, no attempt has been made to scientifically evaluate this practice. Therefore, we assessed the efficacy of applying fish soup to maize plants that were artificially infested with FAW under semi-field conditions. Our results showed that foliar damage is inversely correlated with the concentration of a fish soup and sugar solution, with the highest (100%) concentration resulting in the lowest foliar damage and the highest plant recovery. The FAW foliar damage results for maize plants treated with 100%, 50%, 10% fish soup and sugar, and distilled water were 46.3 ± 5.6, 51.1 ± 5.0, 71.6 ± 5.2, and 99.4 ± 0.4%, respectively, whereas plant recovery results from the same treatments were 35.2 ± 3.7, 31.1 ± 5.4, 20.0 ± 4.6, and 0.0 ± 0.0%, respectively. A concentration of fish soup and sugar solution of at least 25.9% was required to achieve the lowest foliar damage of 17.8% and peak plant recovery of 73.6%. Fish soup and sugar solutions attracted a wide range of insects, including potential natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) of FAW, in a dose-dependent manner. Maize plants treated with fish soup and sugar showed higher chlorophyll content and better growth than the control did. Proximate and chemical analysis showed that fish soup contains essential plant growth nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium). Through GC-MS analyses, we identified 76 volatile organic compounds in fish soup, of which 16 have been reported as insect attractants, highlighting their potential ecological significance. Therefore, the indigenous pest management practices for FAW, such as the use of fish soup, deserve particular attention. These practices could contribute to food security and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Further field validation studies, economic analyses, product development, and optimisation are therefore required to optimise the use of fish soup based on fish waste.

The global atlas of edible insects: analysis of diversity and commonality contributing to food systems and sustainability.

The future of the food system on the planet is increasingly facing uncertainties that are attributable to population growth and a surge in demand for nutritious food. Traditional agricultural practices are poised to place strain on production, as well as natural resources and ecosystem services provided, particularly under a changing climate. Given their remarkable attributes, including a low environmental footprint, high food conversion ratio, rapid growth and nutritional values, edible insects can play a vital role in the global food system. Nonetheless, substantial knowledge gaps persist regarding their diversity, global distribution, and shared characteristics across regions, potentially impeding effective scaling and access to edible insects. Therefore, we compiled and analysed the fragmented database on edible insects and identified potential drivers that elucidate insect consumption, globally, focusing on promoting a sustainable food system. We collated data from various sources, including the literature for a list of edible insect species, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and iNaturalist for the geographical presence of edible insects, the Copernicus Land Service library for Global Land Cover, and FAOSTAT for population, income, and nutritional security parameters. Subsequently, we performed a series of analytics at the country, regional and continental levels. Our study identifies 2205 insect species, consumed across 128 countries globally. Among continents, Asia has the highest number of edible insects (932 species), followed by North America (mainly Mexico) and Africa. The countries with the highest consumption of insects are Mexico (450 species), Thailand (272 species), India (262 species), DRC (255 species), China (235 species), Brazil (140 species), Japan (123 species), and Cameroon (100 species). Our study also revealed some common and specific practices related to edible insect access and utilisation among countries and regions. Although insect consumption is often rooted in cultural practices, it exhibits correlations with land cover, the geographical presence of potentially edible insects, the size of a country's population, and income levels. The practice of eating insects is linked to the culture of people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, while increased consciousness and the need for food sustainability are driving most of the European countries to evaluate eating insects. Therefore, edible insects are becoming an increasingly significant part of the future of planetary food systems. Therefore, more proactive efforts are required to promote them for their effective contribution to achieving sustainable food production.

Dietary and Therapeutic Benefits of Edible Insects: A Global Perspective.

Edible insects are gaining traction worldwide for research and development. This review synthesizes a large and well-established body of research literature on the high nutritional value and variety of pharmacological properties of edible insects. Positive benefits of insect-derived products include immune enhancement; gastrointestinal protection; antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capacities; antibacterial activities; blood lipid and glucose regulation; lowering of blood pressure; and decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, the pharmacological mechanisms of these active components of edible insects in humans have received limited research attention. In addition, we discuss health risks (safety); application prospects; regulations and policies governing their production and consumption with a view to promote innovations, intraglobal trade, and economic development; and suggestions for future directions for further pharmacological functional studies. The aim is to review the current state of knowledge and research trends on edible insects as functional ingredients beneficial to the nutrition and health of humans and animals (livestock, aquatic species, and pets).

Unravelling the nutritional and health benefits of wheat bread enriched with meat powder from laying hen fed diet with insect (Hermetia illucens) meal.

Wheat bread is among stable foods that are nutritionally imbalanced, thus enrichment is crucial. We evaluated the nutritional impact of high-valued wheat bread enriched with varying levels of meat powder from hen fed diet with insect (Hermetia illucens)-based meal. Crude protein and ash in bread increased with increasing inclusion of meat powder. Limiting amino acids like lysine and threonine in enriched bread products increased by 3.0-4.5 and 1.8-3.1-folds, respectively. Omega 3 fatty acids were significantly enhanced in bread fortified with meat powder. Vitamins (retinol, nicotinic acid, and pantothenic acid) were significantly increased in supplemented bread products. Iron, zinc, and calcium increased by 1.1, 1.2 and 3.0-folds in enriched bread with 30% meat powder. Colour, flavour and overall acceptability of breads prepared with 25 and 30% meat powder were highly ranked. Our findings demonstrate that meat powder (i.e., from hen fed insect-based diets) enrichment would provide added health and nutritional benefits to bread products without having adverse effects on any functional or sensory properties. Thus, this could be a novel strategy and trend for improving bread products, that might generate increasing demand for a healthier consumer-oriented lifestyle.

Waste to value: Global perspective on the impact of entomocomposting on environmental health, greenhouse gas mitigation and soil bioremediation.

The innovative use of insects to recycle low-value organic waste into value-added products such as food, feed and other products with a low ecological footprint has attracted rapid attention globally. The insect frass (a combination unconsumed substrate, faeces, and exuviae) contains substantial amounts of nutrients and beneficial microbes that could utilised as fertilizer. We analyse research trends and report on the production, nutrient quality, maturity and hygiene status of insect-composted organic fertilizer (ICOF) generated from different organic wastes, and their influence on soil fertility, pest and pathogen suppression, and crop productivity. Lastly, we discuss the impact of entomocomposting on greenhouse gas mitigation and provide critical analysis on the regulatory aspects of entomocomposting, and utilization and commercialisation ICOF products. This information should be critical to inform research and policy decisions aimed at developing and promoting appropriate standards and guidelines for quality production, sustainable utilization, and successful integration of entomocompost into existing fertilizer supply chains and cropping systems.

Field evaluation of glutathione and glutamic acid as host marking pheromones for control of Tephritid fruit flies in a mango orchard in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Tephritid fruit flies are a major constraint to the global production of horticultural crops. In Africa, an array of native and alien invasive fruit fly species represents a key challenge to the horticultural industry. In an effort to develop a safer management tool for these pests, we previously identified glutathione (GSH) and glutamic acid (GA), as the host marking pheromones (HMPs) of Ceratitis cosyra and Ceratitis rosa, respectively. Here, we report on the effectiveness of these compounds (GSH and GA) in reducing natural fruit fly population infestations in mango orchards. Mango trees at two different agroecological zones in Kenya were sprayed with HMPs, and the fruits sampled periodically and assessed for fruit fly emergence. Fruit fly emergence data were compared to two controls, the positive control using spot spraying of food bait (SS), and the negative control using water (W). RESULTS: The two HMPs and SS substantially decreased fruit fly emergence from the sampled mangoes. GSH and GA treated mangoes showed reduced C. cosyra and C. rosa infestation by ~70-75% relative to control (W), and with variation noted in the pheromone applied and the recovered fruit fly species. The adult emergence in pheromone-treated plants compared favorably with the positive control SS. However, the HMPs had little impact on reducing Bactrocera dorsalis infestation of mangoes. CONCLUSION: The decrease in fruit fly emergence in sampled mango fruits from HMP treated trees corroborate previous laboratory results and support the prospect of using HMPs in the management of African fruit fly species. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Predicting the potential global distribution of an invasive alien pest Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio) (Hemiptera: Triozidae).

The impact of invasive alien pests on agriculture, food security, and biodiversity conservation has been worsened by climate change caused by the rising earth's atmospheric greenhouse gases. The African citrus triozid, Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio; Hemiptera: Triozidae), is an invasive pest of all citrus species. It vectors the phloem-limited bacterium "Candidatus Liberibacter africanus", a causal agent of citrus greening disease or African Huanglongbing (HLB). Understanding the global distribution of T. erytreae is critical for surveillance, monitoring, and eradication programs. Therefore, we combined geospatial and physiological data of T. erytreae to predict its global distribution using the CLIMEX model. The model's prediction matches T. erytreae present-day distribution and shows that parts of the Mediterranean region have moderate (0 < EI < 30) to high (EI > 30) suitability for the pest. The model predicts habitat suitability in the major citrus-producing countries, such as Mexico, Brazil, China, India, and the USA. In the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1B and A2 scenarios, the model predicts a reduction in habitat suitability from the current time to 2070. The findings show that global citrus production will continue to be threatened by T. erytreae. However, our study provides relevant information for biosecurity and risk assessment.

Tephritid Fruit Fly Species Composition, Seasonality, and Fruit Infestations in Two Central African Agro-Ecological Zones.

Bactrocera dorsalis and several Africa-native Ceratitis species are serious constraints to fruit production in sub-Saharan Africa. A long-term trapping and fruit collection study was conducted (2011-2016) in two contrasting agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Cameroon to determine fruit fly species composition, seasonality, attraction to various lures and baits, and fruit infestation levels. Ten tephritid species from genera Bactrocera, Ceratitis, Dacus, and Perilampsis were captured in traps. Bactrocera dorsalis was the most dominant of the trapped species and persisted throughout the year, with peak populations in May-June. Ceratitis spp. were less abundant than B. dorsalis, with Ceratitis anonae dominating in the western highland zone and Ceratitis cosyra in the humid forest zone. Methyl eugenol and terpinyl acetate captured more B. dorsalis and Ceratitis spp., respectively than Torula yeast. The latter was the most effective food bait on all tephritid species compared with BioLure and Mazoferm. Bactrocera dorsalis was the dominant species emerging from incubated fruits, particularly mango, guava, and wild mango. Four plant species-I. wombolu, Dacryodes edulis, Voacanga Africana and Trichoscypha abut-were new host records for B. dorsalis. This study is the first long-duration and comprehensive assessment of frugivorous tephritid species composition, fruit infestations, and seasonality in Central Africa.

Innovative feedstocks for optimal mass production of the edible long-horned grasshopper, Ruspolia differens.

The edible long-horned grasshopper Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera:Tettigoniidae) is a highly nutritious food source consumed in over 20 African countries. Its occurrence is highly seasonal, and wild harvesting is carried out using locally designed and inefficient light traps, thus limiting sustainable utilization as an important food source. To ensure year-round production and availability of R. differens, we evaluated the effects of low-cost and affordable diets based on agricultural by-products on their growth performance, survival, fecundity, and longevity. A total of four diets with varying ratios of agricultural by-products were evaluated: Diet 1 [33.3% maize bran (MB) + 33.3% wheat bran (WB) + 33.3% Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP)], Diet 2 [25% MB + 25% WB + 25% MOLP + 25% shrimp powder (SP)], Diet 3 [20% MB + 20% WB + 20% MOLP + 20% SP + 20% soya bean meal], and Diet 4 ("control"-routinely used diet). The grasshoppers were subjected to the diets from the 1st nymphal instar (24-h-old stages) through adult stages until death. Diet 3 had the highest crude protein content (28%) and digestibility (74.7%). R. differens fed Diet 3 had the shortest development time (57 days) [p < 0.001], highest survival (87%) [p < 0.001], and maximum longevity (89 days) [p = 0.015] and fecundity (247 eggs/female) [p = 0.549] across the various diets. Female survival rate (59%) on Diet 3 was significantly higher compared to the males (41%). The adult female weight gain was significantly higher compared to males fed on different diets. Percentage hatchability of eggs was not significantly different when females were fed Diet 3 and Diet 2. There was a significantly positive correlation between longevity and fecundity of R. differens reared on Diet 2 and 3. These diets could be further optimized and fine-tuned for improved cost-effective mass production of R. differens continent-wide to reduce dependence on erratic and poor seasonal harvest during swarms.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and One Health - a call for action to integrate.

One Health (OH) has gained considerable prominence since the beginning of the 21st century, among others, driven by the recent epidemics and the increasing importance of zoonotic diseases. Yet, despite the holistic and multidimensional nature of OH, to date, most emphasis has been on the interactions between animal and human health, with considerably less attention to environmental and plant health. However, there is growing evidence that the challenges of climate change, growing food and nutritional insecurity, and biodiversity loss can best be addressed within the context of the OH framework. Conceptionally, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) could perfectly fit into such an approach, but historically, IPM has been practiced very much in a compartmentalized manner. New approaches such as Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification offer solutions to how to successfully embed IPM into a OH framework.

Genetic diversity of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) unravels phylogeographic structure and invasion history of eastern African populations.

The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) is a key pest of Citrus sp. worldwide, as it acts as a vector for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the bacterial pathogen that causes citrus Huanglongbing. Diaphorina citri has been reported in Kenya, Tanzania, and more recently in Ethiopia. This study assessed the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of the pest to gain insights into the potential sources of its introduction into Africa. Population structure and differentiation of D. citri populations from China, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and the USA were assessed using 10 microsatellite loci. Additionally, five new complete mitogenomes of D. citri collected in China, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and the USA were analyzed in the context of publicly available sequences. Genotype data grouped the D. citri populations from Kenya and Tanzania in one cluster, and those from Ethiopia formed a separate cluster. The two genetic clusters inferred from genotype data were congruent with mitochondrial sequence data. The mitogenomes from Kenya/Tanzania/China had 99.0% similarity, and the Ethiopia/USA had 99.9% similarity. In conclusion, D. citri populations in eastern Africa have different sources, as the Kenyan and Tanzanian populations probably originated from southeastern Asia, while the Ethiopian population most probably originated from the Americas.

Predicting the habitat suitability of the invasive white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis; Newstead, 1906 (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) using bioclimatic variables.

BACKGROUND: The white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is an invasive pest that threatens the production of several crops of commercial value including mango. Though it is an important pest, little is known about its biology and ecology. Specifically, information on habitat suitability of A. tubercularis occurrence and potential distribution under climate change is largely unknown. In this study, we used four ecological niche models, namely maximum entropy, random forest, generalized additive models, and classification and regression trees to predict the habitat suitability of A. tubercularis under current and future [representative concentration pathways (RCPs): RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 of the year 2070] climatic scenarios, using bioclimatic variables. Models' performance was evaluated using the true skill statistic (TSS), the area under the curve (AUC), correlation (COR), and the deviance. RESULTS: All models sufficiently predicted the occurrence of A. tubercularis with high accuracy (AUC ≥ 0.93, TSS ≥ 0.81 and COR ≥ 0.77). The random forest algorithm had the highest accuracy among the four models (AUC = 0.99, TSS = 0.93, COR = 0.90, deviance = 0.26). Temperature seasonality (Bio4), mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio9), and precipitation seasonality (Bio15) were the most important variables influencing A. tubercularis occurrence. Models' predictions showed that countries in east, south, and west Africa are highly suitable for A. tubercularis establishment under current conditions. Similarly, Mexico, Brazil, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia are also highly suitable for the pest to thrive. Under future conditions, the suitable areas might slightly decrease in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa under both RCPs. However, the range of expansion of A. tubercularis is projected to be higher in Australia, Brazil, Spain, Italy, and Portugal under the future climatic scenarios. CONCLUSION: The results reported here will be useful for guiding decision-making, developing an effective management strategy, and serving as an early warning tool to prevent further spread toward new areas. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Nutritional Quality of Four Novel Porridge Products Blended with Edible Cricket (Scapsipedus icipe) Meal for Food.

Currently, no data exist on the utilization of the newly described cricket species (Scapsipedus icipe) meal as additive in food products, though they have high protein (57%) with 88% total digestibility as well as a variety of essential amino acids. This article presents the first report on the effects of processing techniques and the inclusion of cricket meal (CM) on the nutrient and antinutrient properties of four porridge products compared to a popularly consumed commercial porridge flour (CPF). Porridge enriched with CM had significantly higher protein (2-folds), crude fat (3.4-4-folds), and energy (1.1-1.2-folds) levels than the CPF. Fermented cereal porridge fortified with CM had all three types of omega-3 fatty acids compared to the others. The vitamin content across the different porridge products varied considerably. Germinated cereal porridge with CM had significantly higher iron content (19.5 mg/100 g). Zinc levels ranged from 3.1-3.7 mg/100 g across the various treatments. Total flavonoid content varied significantly in the different porridge products. The phytic acid degradation in germinated and fermented porridge products with CM was 67% and 33%, respectively. Thus, the fortification of porridge products with cricket and indigenous vegetable grain powder could be considered an appropriate preventive approach against malnutrition and to reduce incidences in many low-and middle-income countries.

Host Plant-Based Artificial Diets Enhance Development, Survival and Fecundity of the Edible Long-Horned Grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae).

Wild swarms of the long-horned grasshoppers Ruspolia differens (Serville) which are widely harvested for consumption and sale in Africa are seasonal and unsustainable, hence the need for innovative ways of artificially producing the insects. We investigated the development, survival, and reproduction of R. differens in the laboratory on diets mixed with host plants [Digitaria gayana Kunth, Cynodon dactylon (L.) and Megathyrsus maximus Jacq (Poales: Poaceae); Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asterales: Asteraceae)] identified from guts of their wild conspecifics with a view to developing a suitable diet for artificial mass rearing of the edible insect. A standard diet comprising ground black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Startiomyidae) larvae, soybean flour, maize flour, vitamin premix, and ground bones was tested for rearing R. differens as a control against the same ingredients incorporated with individual powders of the different host plants. Whereas R. differens developed more slowly in the diet mixed with D. gayana than in the control diet; its development was faster in the diet mixed with C. dactylon. Mortalities of R. differens in host plant-based diets were 42.5-52.5%, far lower than in the control diet with 71% mortality. The insects raised on the diet mixed with M. maximus laid approximately twice more eggs compared to R. differens fecundities from the rest of the diets. However, inclusion of host plants in the diets had no detectable influence on R. differens adult weight and longevity. These findings support inclusion of specific host plants in artificial diets used for mass rearing of R. differens to enhance its survival, development, and fecundity.

Climate-induced range shifts of invasive species (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama).

BACKGROUND: The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is a destructive, invasive species that poses a serious threat to the citrus industry wherever it occurs. The psyllid vectors the phloem-limited bacteria 'Candidatus Liberibacter americanus' and 'Ca. L. asiaticus', causal agents of the incurable citrus greening disease or huanglongbing (HLB). It is essential to understand which regions and areas are suitable for colonization by ACP to formulate appropriate policy and preventive measures. Considering its biology and ecology, we used a machine learning algorithm based on the MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy) principle, to predict the potential global distribution of ACP using bioclimatic variables and elevation. RESULTS: The model predictions are consistent with the known distribution of ACP and also highlight the potential occurrence outside its current ecological range, that is, primarily in Africa, Asia and the Americas. The most important abiotic variables driving the global distribution of ACP were annual mean temperature, seasonality of temperature and annual precipitation. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the need for international collaboration in slowing the spread of invasive pests like D. citri. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Potential distribution of fall armyworm in Africa and beyond, considering climate change and irrigation patterns.

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (FAW), first invaded Africa in 2016 and has since become established in many areas across the continent where it poses a serious threat to food and nutrition security. We re-parameterized the existing CLIMEX model to assess the FAW global invasion threat, emphasizing the risk of transient and permanent population establishment in Africa under current and projected future climates, considering irrigation patterns. FAW can establish itself in almost all countries in eastern and central Africa and a large part of western Africa under the current climate. Climatic barriers, such as heat and dry stresses, may limit the spread of FAW to North and South Africa. Future projections suggest that FAW invasive range will retract from both northern and southern regions towards the equator. However, a large area in eastern and central Africa is projected to have an optimal climate for FAW persistence. These areas will serve as FAW 'hotspots' from where it may migrate to the north and south during favorable seasons and then pose an economic threat. Our projections can be used to identify countries at risk for permanent and transient FAW-population establishment and inform timely integrated pest management interventions under present and future climate in Africa.

Endophytic Colonisation of Solanum lycopersicum and Phaseolus vulgaris by Fungal Endophytes Promotes Seedlings Growth and Hampers the Reproductive Traits, Development, and Survival of the Greenhouse Whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum.

In the scope of mitigating the negative impacts of pesticide use and managing greenhouse whiteflies, Trialeurodes vaporariorum sustainably, 16 endophytic fungal isolates from five different genera (Beauveria, Trichoderma, Hypocrea, Bionectria, and Fusarium) were screened for their ability to colonise two preferred host plant species, namely, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), through seed inoculation. Seven and nine isolates were endophytic to P. vulgaris and S. lycopersicum, respectively, where significant differences in the endophytic colonisation rates were observed among the fungal isolates in P. vulgaris and its plant parts, with a significant interaction between the isolates and plant parts in S. lycopersicum. Hypocrea lixii F3ST1, Trichoderma asperellum M2RT4, Trichoderma atroviride F5S21, and T. harzianum KF2R41 successfully colonised all the plant parts of both hosts and therefore were selected and further evaluated for their endophytic persistence, effect on plant growth, and pathogenicity to T. vaporariorum adults and F1 progeny. The four endophytes remained in both host plants for the 5-week assessment with varied colonisation rates related to the strong interaction with the time, isolates, and plant parts in both hosts. The effect of the same endophytes on the different host growth parameters varied in P. vulgaris and S. lycopersicum, with T. asperellum M2RT4 not boosting the growth in both host plants while T. atroviride F5S21 resulted in enhanced shoot biomass in S. lycopersicum. T. atroviride F5S21 and T. harzianum KF2R41 inoculated S. lycopersicum plants and H. lixii F3ST1, T. asperellum M2RT4, and T. harzianum KF2R41 inoculated P. vulgaris plants had significantly lower oviposition, while nymph development in both hosts was significantly prolonged in all the endophytically-colonised plants. The endophytes H. lixii F3ST1 and T. asperellum M2RT4 significantly reduced the longevity/survival of the exposed T. vaporariorum adults and the progeny in both S. lycopersicum and P. vulgaris. The findings demonstrate the attributes of the various endophytes in host plant growth promotion as well as their effects on the life-history parameters of T. vaporariorum and could consequently be developed as potential endophytic fungal-based biopesticides for the sustainable management of the pest in S. lycopersicum and P. vulgaris cropping systems.