The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (BSF, Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is an insect with high protein value and a potential feed agent for animals aimed for human consumption. The growth parameters of BSF larvae reared on four substrates—restaurant-waste, fruit-waste, fish-waste, and commercial tilapia food—for 41 days before processing for inclusion into Oreochromis niloticus (Perciformes: Cichlidae, Nile tilapia) commercial fry diets at 30% (70:30) were determined. On fly larvae, the food substrate based on restaurant waste yielded the greatest larval weight and length. BSF larvae fed a fish-waste diet showed the shortest developmental time. The fruit-waste diet induced the lowest weight and length in the fly larvae/pre-pupae (immature stage). The pre-pupal protein values were similar to commercial food. On fry-fish, the diets with pre-pupae grown on fish waste showed the greatest yields regarding weight (biomass), length, and nutritional content. These results suggest the BSF has the potential to be used in fish feed and provides an alternative for commercial cultivation.

The research aims to investigate the mortality effect of essential oil from Piper cordoncillo var. apazoteanum, an endemic plant from Campeche, Mexico, on early second-instar Aedes aegypti larvae; it also aims to identify the volatile compounds present in the fresh leaves of the plant. To test the effectiveness of the essential oil, we followed World Health Organization Standard Procedures. Larvae were observed for 17 consecutive days after treatment to determine the mortality and growth-inhibitory effect exerted by the essential oil. The results showed that the essential oil was effective in controlling mosquito populations. At a concentration of 800 ppm, the oil achieved an effectiveness rate of 70.00 ± 8.16% after 24 h, increasing to 100.00 ± 0.01% mortality after 72 h. With a concentration of 400 ppm, the effectiveness was 98.33 ± 0.17% by the end of the experiment. Furthermore, the obtained results demonstrated that the LC₅₀ value was 61.84 ± 6.79 ppm, while the LC₉₀ value was 167.20 ± 11.49 ppm. Essential oil concentrations inhibited the growth of immature insect stages, with concentrations between 800–100 ppm demonstrating very high inhibitory activity, and the lowest concentration of 50 ppm showing high inhibitory activity. The study also identified 24 chemical compounds representing 86.71% of the volatile compound composition of the fresh leaves of P. cordoncillo; the most abundant compounds were Safrole, Caryophyllene oxide, E-Nerolidol, and Calarene epoxide. The method used to extract the volatile compounds, solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME), is a promising alternative to traditional methods that avoids the use of potentially harmful solvents, making it more ecologically friendly and potentially safer for professionals handling the extracted compounds. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of P. cordoncillo essential oil as an effective means of controlling mosquito populations, and provides valuable information on the chemical composition of the plant.Moreover, our study is the first to report on the biological activity and chemical composition of P. cordoncillo worldwide.

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Asian citrus psyllid) is a quarantine pest found in at least 60 countries, causing indirect damage as a primary vector of pathogens associated with Huanglongbing in citrus trees. Huanglongbing-infected trees die within 3–8 years, accompanied by economic losses in citriculture. D. citri has spread in Mexico to several states and is a high risk to Mexican citriculture due to its ability to cause damage and the lack of a disease cure. The primary objective of this research was to enhance our understanding of the current status of D. citri in southeastern Mexico. This study analyzed the distribution of D. citri in Campeche, Mexico from 2013 to 2020. The study generated 572,619 D. citri records from 40,620 yellow sticky traps deployed in 10 of the 12 municipalities of the state. We employed advanced MaxEnt and DivaGIS software to accomplish this study. Results showed population fluctuations with a peak during June and July from 2013 to 2019 and July and September in 2020. The study found a higher presence of D. citri in Campeche, Tenabo, Carmen, Champotón, and Escárcega and a higher incidence in Citrus latifolia Tanaka ex Q. Jiménez and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck crops. The variance in the number of D. citri adults captured per year and the dispersion index (a parameter measuring the ability of insects to leave one ecosystem and move to another in search of suitable conditions for their survival and reproduction) was greater than the annual mean, demonstrating a spatially distributed, right-skewed aggregate. The elliptical polygon or standard deviation ellipse indicated the tendency for a less elongated ellipse in 2013–2014. From 2015 to 2018 D. citri expanded north towards Hecelchakán and south towards Champotón, Escárcega, and Carmen. In 2019, D. citri expanded north towards Champotón, Campeche, Tenabo, Hecelchakán, and Calkiní. The months with the most activity between 2013 and 2020 were May, June, July, and August, with June having the highest numbers collected. The results of the enveloped tests (parameter measuring how environmental conditions influence the spatial patterns of insect populations) showed the adaptability of D. citri to different conditions. D. citri prefers temperatures of 24.6–27.9 °C and 1,050–1,500 mm of rainfall. Areas with high-risk for D. citri are coastal and northern parts of the study area. Central Campeche is suitable, and southern parts have low to medium risk. Our research shows the relationship between climatic factors and the distribution of D. citri in the state of Campeche, Mexico. Moreover, our findings will be crucial for implementing effective surveillance measures in areas where the probability model indicates the potential presence of D. citri. This is especially significant due to the remarkable adaptability of D. citri to diverse environmental conditions.

Agricultural pests present a significant challenge to humanity, often managed through synthetic chemicals that, when misused, can cause irreversible harm to both the environment and human health. This study focuses on endemic plants from the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, particularly from the state of Campeche, to identify their historical uses and propose an updated list of species with pesticide potential in the region. We systematically reviewed specimens from the Center for Sustainable Development and Wildlife Management (CEDESU) herbarium and local databases. Of the 3084 specimens collected, 2524 (81.84%) were from Campeche. The collection encompasses 106 botanical families, 459 genera, and 747 species. The study identified 201 plant species from 48 taxonomic families that are endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula Biotic Province (YPBP), of which 123 species are exclusive to the Mexican Yucatán Peninsula (MYP), representing 61.19% of the endemic species. Campeche contains 134 species (66.66%), distributed across 96 genera and 43 families. Notably, 46.26% of the species (62 species) belong to the Mexican region, with 8 species (12.90%) exclusive to Campeche. The research revealed that 27.90% of the families and 19.79% of the genera present in the state have been the subject of previous scientific studies regarding their use as pesticides. The most extensively studied families were Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae. However, there is a notable lack of research on endemic plants from the Yucatán Peninsula, underscoring the need for increased attention to these species. The identified genera and families contain chemical compounds with activity against significant pests, demonstrating substantial potential for the development of natural pesticides.