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Insects
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Insects at the Center of the Green Transition
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Insects at the Center of the Green Transition

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 21375

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Patrizia Falabella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Interests: insect immunity; molecular bases of host–parasitoid interaction; molecular bases of insect olfactive perception; bioconversion processes by Hermetia illucens; insects as a source of antimicrobial peptides
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rosanna Salvia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Interests: antimicrobial peptides; parasitoid venom; chitin and chitosan; odorant-binding proteins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

At present, most human activities are no longer sustainable. The environment is suffering from pollution (CO2 overproduction, water waste, and pesticide and antibiotic drug abuse—the latter leading not only Earth’s contamination but also the spread of drug-resistant microorganisms), land is stealing from the agriculture. Humanity is harming itself. Developing sustainable processes is the new challenge, and many answers can be found in insects and their huge biodiversity, acquired during their long evolutionary history and their adaptation to all environmental conditions. Insects can offer ready-made solutions as whole organisms (for biological control), through their interactions with other organisms (parasitoids and related factors), and with their genes and molecules (venoms, viruses, ovarian proteins, antimicrobial peptides, olfaction-related molecules, proteins, lipids, chitin, etc.). Studying and imitating insects and their processes and using them as sources of molecules or models of conserved pathways will turn global issues into opportunities for a perfect green transition.

Prof. Dr. Patrizia Falabella
Dr. Rosanna Salvia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Biodiversity
  • Environmental safeguard
  • Pest management
  • Sustainability
  • Climate change
  • Molecular biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Circular economy
  • Ecology

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1274 KiB  
Article
Physical Properties of Substrates as a Driver for Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae Growth
by Wael Yakti, Marcus Müller, Martina Klost, Inga Mewis, Dennis Dannehl and Christian Ulrichs
Insects 2023, 14(3), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14030266 - 8 Mar 2023
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4086
Abstract
The growth and nutritional profile of the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is usually investigated and compared when the larvae feed on substrates that differ in the chemical composition as well as physical properties. This study compares BSFL growth on substrates that differ [...] Read more.
The growth and nutritional profile of the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is usually investigated and compared when the larvae feed on substrates that differ in the chemical composition as well as physical properties. This study compares BSFL growth on substrates that differ primarily in physical properties. This was achieved by using various fibres in the substrates. In the first experiment, two substrates with 20% or 14% chicken feed were mixed with three fibres (cellulose, lignocellulose, or straw). In the second experiment, the growth of BSFL was compared with a 17% chicken feed substrate that additionally contained straw with different particle sizes. We show that the substrate texture properties values did not influence the BSFL growth, but the bulk density of the fibre component did. The substrate mixed with cellulose led to higher larvae growth over time in comparison to substrates with higher bulk density fibres. BSFL grown on the substrate mixed with cellulose reached their maximum weight in 6 days instead of 7. Neither the fibres nor the nutrient level changed the crude protein content of BSFL and the values ranged between 33.5% and 38.3%, but an interaction between the fibre and nutrient level was observed. The size of straw particles in the substrates influenced the BSFL growth and led to a 26.78% difference in Ca concentration, a 12.04% difference in Mg concentration, and a 35.34% difference in P concentration. Our findings indicate that the BSFL-rearing substrates can be optimised by changing the fibre component or its particle size. This can improve the survival rate, reduce the cultivation time needed to reach the maximum weight, and alter the chemical composition of BSFL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects at the Center of the Green Transition)
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18 pages, 1993 KiB  
Article
Hemp Waste as a Substrate for Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) and Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Rearing
by Wael Yakti, Nadja Förster, Marcus Müller, Inga Mewis and Christian Ulrichs
Insects 2023, 14(2), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14020183 - 13 Feb 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3507
Abstract
The proper treatment of cannabis agricultural wastes can reduce the environmental impact of its cultivation and generate valuable products. This study aimed to test the potential of cannabis agricultural wastes as a substrate for the rearing of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and [...] Read more.
The proper treatment of cannabis agricultural wastes can reduce the environmental impact of its cultivation and generate valuable products. This study aimed to test the potential of cannabis agricultural wastes as a substrate for the rearing of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and yellow mealworms (MW). In the case of BSFL, replacing the fibre component (straw) in the substrate with the hemp waste can increase the nutritional value of the substrate and led to bigger larvae. The bigger larvae had lower P and Mg, and higher Fe and Ca. Crude protein also varied based on the size of larvae and/or the content of protein in the initial substrate, which was boosted by replacing straw with hemp material. No other cannabinoids than cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), and cannabidiol (CBD) were found in significant amounts in the larvae. In the case of MW, the larvae grew less on the hemp material in comparison to wheat bran. Replacing wheat bran with the hemp material led to smaller larvae with higher Ca, Fe, K, and crude protein content, but lower Mg and P values. No cannabinoids were detected in the MW fed with the hemp material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects at the Center of the Green Transition)
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17 pages, 6367 KiB  
Article
Identification and Functional Characterization of Toxoneuron nigriceps Ovarian Proteins Involved in the Early Suppression of Host Immune Response
by Rosanna Salvia, Flora Cozzolino, Carmen Scieuzo, Annalisa Grimaldi, Antonio Franco, S. Bradleigh Vinson, Maria Monti and Patrizia Falabella
Insects 2022, 13(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13020144 - 29 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2920
Abstract
The endophagous parasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) of the larval stages of the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) injects the egg, the venom, the calyx fluid, which includes a Polydnavirus (T. nigriceps BracoVirus: TnBV) and the Ovarian Proteins [...] Read more.
The endophagous parasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) of the larval stages of the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) injects the egg, the venom, the calyx fluid, which includes a Polydnavirus (T. nigriceps BracoVirus: TnBV) and the Ovarian Proteins (OPs) into the host body during oviposition. The host metabolism and immune system are disrupted prematurely shortly after parasitization by the combined action of the TnBV, venom, and OPs. OPs are involved in the early suppression of host immune response, before TnBV infects and expresses its genes in the host tissues. In this work, we evaluated the effect of HPLC fractions deriving from in toto OPs. Two fractions caused a reduction in hemocyte viability and were subsequently tested to detect changes in hemocyte morphology and functionality. The two fractions provoked severe oxidative stress and actin cytoskeleton disruption, which might explain the high rate of hemocyte mortality, loss of hemocyte functioning, and hence the host’s reduced hemocyte encapsulation ability. Moreover, through a transcriptome and proteomic approach we identify the proteins of the two fractions: eight proteins were identified that might be involved in the observed host hemocyte changes. Our findings will contribute to a better understanding of the secreted ovarian components and their role in parasitoid wasp strategy for evading host immune responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects at the Center of the Green Transition)
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Review

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17 pages, 902 KiB  
Review
Lipids from Insects in Cosmetics and for Personal Care Products
by Antonio Franco, Rosanna Salvia, Carmen Scieuzo, Eric Schmitt, Antonella Russo and Patrizia Falabella
Insects 2022, 13(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13010041 - 30 Dec 2021
Cited by 54 | Viewed by 10006
Abstract
Insects, the most varied group of known organisms on Earth, are arousing great interest also for the possibility to use them as a feed and food source. The mass rearing of some species, defined as “bioconverters”, is spreading worldwide, thanks to their sustainability. [...] Read more.
Insects, the most varied group of known organisms on Earth, are arousing great interest also for the possibility to use them as a feed and food source. The mass rearing of some species, defined as “bioconverters”, is spreading worldwide, thanks to their sustainability. At the end of the bioconversion process, breeders obtain eco-friendly biomolecules of high biological and economic value, including proteins and lipids, from larvae of bioconverter insects, in particular Hermetia illucens. Besides the most classical use of insect lipids as food additives, they are also used in the formulation of several products for personal care. The composition of insect lipids depends on the substrate on which the insects are reared but also on the insect species, so the cosmetic producers should consider these features to choose their insect starting point. The most abundant fatty acids detected in H. illucens are lauric, myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids, regardless of feed substrate; its fatty acids composition is favorable for soap composition, while their derivatives are used for detergent and shampoo. Here, we offer an overview of insect lipids, their extraction methods, and their application in cosmetics and personal care products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects at the Center of the Green Transition)
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