Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the most damaging pests in maize crops. In order to manage it, synthetic insecticides such as diamides, neonicotinoids, and pyrethroids are used, but they present a risk for humans and the environment. Investigations of safer alternatives include the use of natural extracts. Thus, this research evaluated the effects of chloroform extract (CHCl₃Sc) (5000, 4000, 2000, 1000, and 500 ppm) on aerial parts of Salvia connivens and of nonanal and pyrocatechol (1000, 600, 400, and 80 ppm) on S. frugiperda mortality, duration of the larva and pupae phases, and pupae weight after 24 h. The second instars of S. frugiperda larvae were fed an artificial diet incorporating the extract and compounds. The CHCl₃Sc had insecticidal activity against S. frugiperda, showing an LC50 of 1504 ppm. Insectistatic activity began at 1000 ppm, increasing pupal and larval duration in 7.6 and 1.4 days, respectively. Pyrocatechol and nonanal were found in this extract. The first did not have any significant difference in larval or pupal mortalities. On the other hand, insectistatic activity was shown at 500 ppm, increasing the larval duration by 1.7 days compared with the control. In the case of nonanal, the insecticide activity was LC50 of 200 ppm, and insectistatic activity started at 80 ppm, increasing larval duration by 3.2 days compared with the control and reducing pupal weight by 3.4%. The results show that chloroformic extract had insecticidal and insectistatic activities against S. frugiperda; nonanal was an aldehyde compound present in this extract, which confers insecticidal and insectistatic activities against this pest.

Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are two prominent pests of maize and its stored grains, respectively. Botanical pesticides have been proposed as an alternative for their management. This study evaluated the insecticidal activity of Salvia connivens (Lamiaceae) methanolic extract and rosmarinic acid against S. frugiperda and T. molitor by adding them to an artificial diet, as well as their ecotoxicological effects on Poecilia reticulata (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) and Danio rerio (Cypriniformes: Danionidae) through acute toxicity tests. The methanolic extract showed higher mortality activity against S. frugiperda (LC₅₀ = 874.28 ppm) than against T. molitor (LC₅₀ = 1856.94 ppm) and was non-toxic to fish. Rosmarinic acid, the most abundant compound in the extract (80.45 mg g⁻¹), showed higher activity against S. frugiperda (LC₅₀ = 176.81 ppm). This compound did not cause a toxic effect on adult P. reticulata at the tested concentrations. However, in P. reticulata fingerlings and D. rerio adults, it was non-toxic, except in D. rerio embryos, where it was slightly toxic. These findings suggest that S. connivens methanolic extract has potential as a botanical product for the management of S. frugiperda and T. molitor with low ecotoxicological impact, while rosmarinic acid may be a useful compound for the management of S. frugiperda.

The large-scale conversion of forests to agriculture has caused biodiversity loss, climate change, and disrupted dietary fatty acid balances, with adverse public health effects. Wild edibles like pine nuts, especially Pinus cembroides, provide sustainable solutions by supporting ecosystems and offering economic value. However, variability in seed quality limits market potential, and lipidomic studies on P. cembroides remain sparse. This paper underscores the ecological, social, and nutritional value of P. cembroides while advocating for advanced research to enhance its use as a non-timber forest resource in Mexico’s communal areas. It explores various analytical techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR), chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS, GC-MS) and GC coupled with flame ionization detector (GC-FID), highlighting extraction methods like derivatization, purification, and thin-layer chromatography. Likewise, some considerations are addressed for the treatment of data obtained in the detection of fatty acids from bioformatics and the evaluation of the data through statistical methods and artificial intelligence and deep learning. These approaches aim to improve fatty acid profiling and seed quality assessments, fostering the species economic viability and supporting sustainable livelihoods in rural communities, encouraging researchers across the country to explore the fatty acid composition of different P. cembroides populations can drive valuable insights into its nutritional and ecological significance. Such efforts can enhance understanding of regional variations, promote sustainable use, and elevate the specie’s economic and scientific value.

Mining waste often contains elevated concentrations of V, Cr, As, Sb, and Pb. Stibnite mining, during extraction and processing, generates waste that is deposited directly onto soil without vegetation cover, potentially leading to environmental pollution. This study assessed concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the rhizoids and stems-phyllidia of terrestrial mosses near antimony mines and used these mosses as biomonitors of soil contamination. Results obtained via energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry showed the highest concentrations of As, Sb, and Pb in mosses growing on mining rubble, reflecting elevated contaminant levels in the study area. Concentrations of As, Sb, and Pb differed significantly between mosses from mine rubble sites and those from forest and meander sites. Both rhizoids and stems/phyllidia of mosses from rubble sites showed high enrichment factors (EFs) for As, Sb, and Pb. Notably, PTEs concentrations in mosses from the forest area were lower than values reported for other regions, whereas concentrations in the mine rubble area exceeded those reported for other mining-polluted regions worldwide.