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 intensive use of chemical insecticides against mosquitoes has led to the development of widespread insecticide resistance. Control of Anopheles mosquitoes in malaria endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa has become increasingly difficult. There is an urgent need for malaria control programmes to adopt more integrated mosquito management approaches that include sustainable, nonchemical solutions. The mermithid nematode Romanomermis iyengari is one of several natural control alternatives to synthetic pesticides for mosquito suppression. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the nematode R. iyengari for control of Anopheles gambiae. The nematode R. iyengari was mass-produced, and pre-parasitic stage (J2) were used for laboratory and field experiments. In laboratory experiments, two concentrations of pre-parasitics (5 and 10 J2 per larva) were tested against first- (L1), second- (L2) and third-instar (L3) larvae of An. gambiae. Infected larvae were observed daily to determine their mortality rate and the number of post-parasitic nematodes emerging from dead larvae. In field experiments, 3500, 4000 and 5000 J2/m2 were sprayed in separate natural Anopheles breeding sites. After treatment, the larval mosquito density in the breeding sites was assessed every 5–7 days. Laboratory results showed that larval An. gambiae is susceptible to nematode infection: 100% L1 larvae died within 24 hours post-treatment, and 100% of both L2 and L3 larvae died within 7 days, regardless of nematode concentrations. The average number of post-parasitic nematodes emerging per larva increased with increasing nematode concentration. In field experiments, the monthly applications of 3500 to 5000 pre-parasitic nematodes per m2 eliminated larval mosquito development in Anopheles- and mixed breeding sites. Larval mosquito density dramatically decreased five days after the first treatment in all treated sites and was maintained at a very low level during the whole experimental period. Basically, only early instar larva were detected in treated sites throughout the test period. The average number of post-parasitic nematodes emerging per larva collected in treated sites was 1.45, 2, and 5.7 respectively for sites treated with 3500, 4000, and 5000 J2/m2. Malaria mosquito larvae is susceptible to R. iyengari infection in West Africa. Parasitism intensity depends on tested nematode concentrations. Monthly application of 3500 J2/ m2 was enough to control effectively larval An. gambiae in wetlands and floodable locations in West Africa.

The inhibitory effect of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) and Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) larval excretions–secretions (ES) on Staphylococcus aureus was determined using a portable colorimetric method without the need for any dedicated spectral instrument. Polystyrene 96 well microplates were used and 100 μl of the bacterial inoculum (5 × 10⁵ CFU/ml) plus 100 μl of the dipteran exosecretions at different concentrations were added to each well. Subsequently, 50 μl of a 1% solution of the triphenyl tetrazolium chloride stain was added to each well to determine the bacterial viability. The color development in each well was measured with the ImageJ software S. aureus was exposed to different concentrations of the ES of both species individually. At a concentration of 800 ppm ES of C. rufifacies or Co. macellaria, bacterial growth was inhibited 97.45 ± 1.70% and 82.21 ± 1.88%, respectively. As expected, exposure to a lower concentration (i.e., 50 ppm) was less inhibitory (C. rufifacies ES, 77.65 ± 4.25% and Co. macellaria ES, 43.54 ± 4.63%). This study demonstrates for the first time the bactericidal activity of C. rufifacies and Co. macellaria ES against S. aureus. This finding is promising as it could result in the identification and synthesis of proteins capable of suppressing pathogen development in wounds. Additionally, the proposed method can simplify the use of expensive laboratory instruments for antimicrobial activity determination.

To determine larvicidal activity of the essential oil, hydrolat and botanical extracts derived from leaves of Pseudocalymma alliaceum on mosquito larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus. Groups of twenty larvae were used in the larvicidal assays. The mortality, relative growth rate, the larval and pupal duration and viability was estimated. The essential oil was analyzed by solid phase microextraction using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Essential oil at 800 ppm showed larvicidal activity at 24 h with lethal values of LC50 and LC90 of 267.33 and 493.63 ppm. The hydrolat at 20% and 10% on 2nd stage larvae showed 100% effectiveness after 24 h. The aqueous extract at 10% had a relative growth index of 0.58, while the ethanolic and methanolic extract obtained values of 0.76 and 0.70 and control reached 0.99. Larvae treated with 10% of methanol, ethanol and aqueous extract showed a reduction in larval duration of 5.00, 2.20 and 4.35 days; ethanol extract at 1% provoke decrease of 2.40 days in the development and exhibited an increment of 3.30 days when treated with 0.01%. Aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts at 10% reduced in 6.15, 3.42 and 5.57 days pupal development. The main compounds were diallyl disulfide (50.05%), diallyl sulfide (11.77%) and trisulfide di-2-propenyl (10.37%). The study demonstrated for the first time, the larvicidal activity of the essential oil and hydrolat of Pseudocalymma alliaceum; aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts inhibited the normal growth and development of mosquito larvae, prolonging and delaying larval and pupal duration.

Indigenous communities worldwide face increasing challenges from modernization, migration, and economic pressures, which threaten their traditional agricultural systems and cultural heritage. These dynamics often lead to shifts in land use, the erosion of ancestral knowledge, and the weakening of cultural identity. Understanding how these communities adapt to such changes is crucial for sustainable development. This research examines how indigenous communities, particularly San José Chiltepec in Oaxaca, balance the preservation of cultural heritage with adapting to evolving agricultural practices and land use transformations. It emphasizes the critical role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable land management and the importance of cultural identity amidst socio-economic pressures. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating geostatistical data, spatial analysis, and qualitative insights from municipal development plans and community-based observations. This provided a detailed understanding of how local conditions and external forces shape land use and conservation. The findings reveal that, while irrigated agriculture and pasturelands have declined, the community has shown resilience through the preservation of seasonal farming and the expansion of secondary vegetation. San José Chiltepec serves as a model for how indigenous communities can maintain cultural and environmental heritage while adapting to modern economic challenges.

The increasing demand for food and the overexploitation of natural resources rapidly deplete the planet’s ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Nature-based solutions effectively promote agricultural sustainability and environmental conservation but require continuous financial and political support to overcome existing barriers. This research examines these solutions’ effectiveness in Santa María Jacatepec, a biocultural region of Indigenous peoples in the Papaloapan Basin, Oaxaca, Mexico. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative analyses uses National Institute of Statistics and Geography data to evaluate socioeconomic and environmental indicators. The results indicate that despite pressures to develop cattle ranching, communities have maintained rain-fed agriculture, especially the milpa system, ensuring food sovereignty and preserving agricultural biodiversity. Additionally, implementation of Voluntarily Conserved Areas has facilitated access to payments for environmental services, incentivizing ecosystem protection. However, financial and structural challenges persist, limiting the expansion of these solutions. Santa María Jacatepec exemplifies how Indigenous communities can apply nature-based solutions to strengthen agricultural sustainability and environmental conservation. Integrating traditional knowledge and strengthening conservation policies can enhance community resilience and ensure sustainable development amid increasing pressure on natural ecosystems.