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 insecticidal and repellent effect of essential oil isolated from fresh leaves of Porophyllum linaria on maize weevil was evaluated, as well as the effect on the grain germination after treated. In total, 28 constituents were identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry accounting for 99.86% of whole essential oil. The main majority compounds were β-myrcene (41.94%), D-limonene (20.29%), and estragole (20.03%). Contact toxicity significantly increased with dose and time after treatment. With the 800 ppm (highest concentration), the mortality (%) obtained for the tenth and fifteenth day was 43 and 82%, respectively, whereas with 50 ppm (lowest concentration) 30% mortality was obtained at the end of the experiment (fifteenth day). At 15 d (end of the experiment), the LC₅₀ y LC₉₀ were obtained with values of 329.01 ± 44.35 y 1058.86 ± 117.76 ppm, respectively. For a concentration of 800 ppm, a selection index of zero was obtained, indicating the preference of the pest to the untreated maize (control). The maize grains germination test showed a significant reduction both in the length of hypocotyl and radicle of maize grain. So, in the highest dose, the hypocotyl and radicle length was 1.40 ± 0.34 and 9.14 ± 0.55 cm, respectively, whereas the control group registered 3.28 ± 0.39 and 13.02 ± 0.97 cm, respectively. This finding is promising since as it could result in the identification of botanical substances capable of suppressing maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais development.

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.

The Green Revolution led to an increased use of synthetic pesticides, causing environmental pollution. As an alternative, biopesticides made from entomopathogenic agents such as fungi have been sought. This study aimed to design and evaluate the performance of a harvester machine for efficiently collecting entomopathogenic spores of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana grown on rice and corn substrates. The spore yield was estimated, and a spore count and a colony-forming unit (CFU) count were performed. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the mean values of spores obtained from different combinations of solid substrate and fungi. The Corn-Metarhizium combination produced 34.15 g of spores per kg of substrate and 1.51 × 10⁹ CFUs mL⁻¹. Similarly, the Rice-Metarhizium combination produced 57.35 g per kg and 1.59 × 10⁹ CFUs mL⁻¹. Meanwhile, the Corn-Beauveria combination yielded 35.47 g per kg and 1.00 × 10⁹ CFUs mL⁻¹, while the Rice-Beauveria combination had a yield of 38.26 g per kg and 4.50 × 10⁸ CFUs mL⁻¹. Based on the reported results, the Rice-Metarhizium combination appears to be the most effective, yielding the highest number of harvested spores per kg of substrate. The study estimated a total cost of approximately $409.31 for manufacturing the harvester, considering only the cost of the materials. These results could potentially increase the availability and affordability of entomopathogenic fungi in integrated pest management.

Peanut postharvest processing in developing regions often suffers from equipment mismatches due to lack of varietal specific engineering data. The objective of this study was to determine the physical and mechanical properties of four peanut cultivars (INIAP 380, Charapoto, Caramelo, and Rosita) grown in Manabí, Ecuador, to establish engineering parameters for design and optimization of postharvest equipment. Through standardized measurements and statistical analyses, was characterized kernel dimensions (length, equatorial diameter, mass, density, sphericity, flow properties (angle of repose), friction coefficients and rolling resistance coefficients (rubber, stainless steel, carbon steel). Key findings include: (1) 90.5% of kernels within the 6.8-10.28 mm diameter range ideal for mechanical sorting, but for accurate classification, gravimetric or densimetric methods should be employed instead of dimensional sorting (2) 33.7% lower dynamic friction on stainless steel versus rubber surfaces, and (3) Barriga de Sapo's superior sphericity (0.65) and rolling resistance (ρₑ=0.554±0.007). These results provide the first complete engineering dataset for Ecuadorian peanut varieties, enabling the design of adapted seeders, conveyors, and storage systems. The study particularly supports small-scale processors in Manabí through: (a) DEM/CFD modeling inputs, (b) evidence-based material selection (e.g., stainless steel for energy efficiency), and (c) quality control standards using density thresholds.