Insects are increasingly promoted as a sustainable protein alternative for human consumption. Yet consumers have shown varied levels of acceptance, especially in countries without a tradition of eating insects. Even in countries where people traditionally eat insects, farmed insects might be considered novel foods if they are not the same species locals traditionally consume. In this work, we measured acceptance of a farmed cricket ( Gryllus madagascariensis ) as food at eight primary schools in the central highlands of Madagascar, a country with a long tradition of eating insects but not this species. We evaluated the role of education as a strategy to increase acceptance of insects as food. We also assessed whether education interventions affect children’s willingness to try cricket-based products, comparing three five-minute education interventions : historical overview of entomophagy in Madagascar, nutritional benefits of consuming insects, and preparation of cricket-based meals. Out of the 483 children, 73% had consumed insects in the past. The percentage of children willing to eat novel farmed crickets in school meals jumped from 16% before the education sessions to 87% after the education sessions. Education based on preparation of cricket-based meals was the most effective, as 86% of the reluctant children changed their minds. Finally, we found strong evidence that males were more willing to try insects than females before and after education. Our results are in line with past studies, and underscore the importance of education in promoting insect consumption. The drastic increase in the proportion of children willing to try insects suggests that barriers to consuming farmed insects are low in countries with a tradition of insect consumption and can be overcome through education. Our study supports the acceptability of novel farmed insects as an alternative protein solution to combat malnutrition in children in developing countries like Madagascar.

The land flatworm Bipalium kewense Moseley, 1878 is the most widely distributed invasive species of land flatworm, being found in over 78 countries. A specimen was recently collected in an urbanized part of the capital city of Antananarivo in Madagascar, identified on the basis of external morphology and later confirmed by molecular methods. This represents the first strictly confirmed occurrence of the species in Madagascar. Previous African records of Bipalium kewense are summarized, and two records from continental Africa (Egypt and South Africa) are confirmed by molecular barcoding.

Nesocordulia McLachlan, 1882 is a poorly known dragonfly genus endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros. The genus is revised, and all twelve species are described, including six new ones: N. coloratissima sp. nov., N. evanida sp. nov., N. fossa sp. nov., N. ipsio sp. nov., N. lyricauda sp. nov., and N. odonator sp. nov. All are well-defined, with notably distinct male cerci, hamules, and colouration. While an identification key for males of all species is provided, this is based on single specimens for six of them. Females are known for only six species. While several radiations of damselfly genera had been recognised in the Malagasy Region already, Nesocordulia is the first to be uncovered in the suborder Anisoptera. Due to the scarcity of data, the exact drivers of their diversification remain unclear, however. While seven species are known from the humid and subhumid forest zone of eastern and north-western Madagascar, and only N. coloratissima and N. villiersi Legrand, 1984 appear confined to the drier west and to the Comoros respectively, the exact collection localities of three species remain unknown. Although the limited data suggest that most species are localised, the few species with more records appear to be fairly widespread. The species’ ecology is almost unknown, with more details provided on the habitat and behaviour of N. evanida only, and their conservation status is also largely unknown. Four species have not been recorded for over a century, however, while only N. coloratissima and N. evanida were confirmed to inhabit anthropogenically influenced landscapes.

Madagascar, renowned for its unique biodiversity, faces significant environmental threats. Despite their vital ecosystem services, invertebrates, such as Lepidoptera, remain understudied, especially within the Malagasy Island. Indeed, butterflies and moths often serve as biodiversity indicators. This study investigates lepidopteran community structure across different habitat types: protected areas and anthropized areas, represented by forest edges and agroforestry through four expeditions to Madagascar’s moist eastern forests. Both sampling methods were employed including butterfly nets and fermented fruit-baited traps. While nets accounted for 90% of captures, highlighting operator bias, bait traps captured unique species, emphasizing the complementarity of these methods. With over 891 captured specimens, 418 macrolepidopterans were identified at the species level for a total of 50 species. Protected forests hosted 80% of endemic Lepidoptera reliant on specialized ecological niches, while anthropized zones were dominated by common generalist species which are resilient to habitat changes. While the species richness and composition of sampled microlepidoptera are similar, habitat fragmentation created diverse environmental conditions, hosting specific populations. Conservation challenges persist, particularly for endemic species vulnerable to poaching. It is crucial to continue sampling Madagascar’s lepidofauna, as this offers considerable potential for the sustainable maintenance of ecosystems and the long-term preservation of biodiversity of the Malagasy Island.

Dragonflies are iconic freshwater and excellent indicators of freshwater ecosystems' environmental health and quality. The knowledge of Madagascar's Odonata is not advanced, and inventories are needed to increase the information on the distribution and conservation of these species. Here, we assessed the Odonata fauna occurring in Antananarivo City. Through opportunistic observations from October 2020 to September 2021 in 13 pond areas, we recorded 32 species of Odonata (22 Anisoptera and 10 Zygoptera). Endemic species represent a high proportion of the samples (69.70%). Few exotic species have been recorded (15.15%) and do not represent a real threat to the native species. Based on the International Union on Conservation of Nature criteria, most of the species are classified as a Least Concern (81.82%). River and the lake represent the main breeding sites for these species. The rice fields surrounding the Capital are excellent for breeding but contain fewer species. Interaction predator-prey should be initiated to assess Odonata's role in controlling malaria vectors such as Anopheles arabiensis.