Fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) is a polyphagous and migratory lepidopteran pest insect in field crops and is notoriously invasive worldwide. In large portions of the Americas, its populations are managed using transgenic maize or cotton varieties producing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), primarily Vip3Aa pyramided with Cry Bt proteins. We determined the susceptibility of FAW field populations from locations pressured with such maize hybrids for over five years. We used time–mortality bioassays with F₁ third-instar larvae of six geographically distinct populations collected in maize fields of a tropical agricultural region encompassing four Brazilian states. We maintained the neonate progeny from the field populations on an artificial diet until the third instar, and then determined their survival curves on the foliage of three Vip3Aa/Cry-producing Bt maize hybrids. Death of the mid-size, third-instar FAWs occurred relatively rapidly, with larval mortality rates reaching 98–100% in less than five days regardless of Bt maize hybrid. However, median survival time (ST₅₀) for the larvae differed among the populations, with the lowest and highest ST₅₀ values occurring for PI-Cr (42 h, 1.75 d) and PI-Ur populations (66–90 h, 2.75–3.75 h), respectively. Therefore, the F₁ third-instar larvae of FAW populations were largely susceptible to Vip3Aa/Cry-producing maize foliage, and the most contrasting susceptibility occurred in the insects from Piauí state, Brazil. These results indicate that progeny of FAWs from areas highly pressured with Vip3Aa/Cry Bt maize hybrids are killed on maize foliage producing Vip3Aa and Cry Bt proteins despite field reports of increased leaf damage by the larvae in some locations. This research informs decision making for Bt-crop resistance management by producers, technicians, and researchers in local, regional, and world agriculture.

Purpose: Acknowledging the critical role of processing in determining the final quality of T. molitor and Z. morio flours, this study aimed to assess the effects of different slaughtering methods (boiling, steaming, freezing, nitrogen, microwave and dehydrator) and drying methods (dehydrator and oven) on the nutritional composition, yield and colour characteristics of these insect-based products. Design/methodology/approach: This study investigated the combined effects of six slaughtering methods (boiling, steaming, freezing, nitrogen, microwave and dehydrator) and two drying methods (dehydrator and oven) on the yield, nutritional composition and colour attributes of flours produced from Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Larvae were processed in a factorial arrangement (6 × 2) and analysed for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, mineral content and colour parameters. Findings: The slaughter and drying methods significantly influenced T. molitor and Z. morio larvae flours. In T. molitor, interactions affected dry weight, flour yield, dry matter, minerals and colour, with boiling + stove and steaming dehydrator being the most efficient combinations. Nutrient and mineral retention varied depending on treatment, highlighting the potential for tailored nutritional profiles. For Z. morio, slaughter methods had stronger effects than drying, with thermal processes yielding higher quality flours. Stove drying enhanced protein and micronutrient retention, while the dehydrator favoured macronutrients. Colour was markedly influenced, with thermal methods producing lighter, more appealing flours. Originality/value: The innovation of this work lies in the integrated evaluation of slaughter and drying combinations, using a factorial design that allows the identification of optimal processing routes for each species. Our results have direct application in the edible insect industry, offering sustainable and cost-effective processing alternatives, especially relevant for producers in regions where high-energy processing methods (e.g., freeze-drying) are economically unviable. This is the first comprehensive study to systematically compare multiple slaughter and drying combinations for these two commercially important species, linking technological parameters with market-relevant quality characteristics.

Em alguns países, a utilização de cultivares transgênicos de milho, algodão e soja aumentou bastante nos últimos anos, alcançando níveis de adoção acima de 90% em muitas regiões, impondo intensa pressão de seleção para resistência nas populações dos insetos alvo. A lagarta-do-cartucho, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), é um inseto polífago e migratório de importância econômica global. Suas populações no Brasil representam um dos principais alvos de controle das proteínas inseticidas (toxinas) de Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) produzidas em cultivares transgênicos. Além disso, a maioria desses cultivos recebem aplicações de inseticidas sintéticos contra um universo complexo de insetos-praga e é baixa a adoção de áreas de refúgio não-Bt. Diversos cultivares de milho Bt das primeira e segunda gerações (com toxinas Cry tais como Cry1F, Cry1Ab e Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2) perderam eficácia contra populações de S. frugiperda pela seleção de resistência a Bt. Atualmente, relatos levam a suspeita que falhas de controle da S. frugiperda associadas ao evento de resistência também acomete as atuais cultivares de milho Bt de terceira geração, que produzem conjuntamente as toxinas Vip e Cry. Apesar da toxina Vip originalmente apresentar eficácia contra as lagartas resistentes às toxinas Cry, pelo menos as lagartas nos estágios iniciais, a perda da eficácia dessas toxinas torna os milhos Bt Vip/Cry mais vulneráveis à seleção de resistência a Bt nas populações de S. frugiperda. Assim, é crucial obter dados regionais e confiáveis da suscetibilidade das populações do inseto para informar tomadas de decisão sobre práticas de manejo. O primeiro objetivo neste estudo foi investigar o status de suscetibilidade de populações de campo de S. frugiperda de locais com pressão de seleção com milho Bt Vip/Cry por mais de cinco anos. Utilizou-se bioensaios de tempo-mortalidade com lagartas de terceiro ínstar descendentes F1 de seis populações coletadas em campos de milho da região MATOPIBA, uma fronteira agrícola tropical que abrange quatro estados brasileiros, Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí e Bahia. Os insetos foram avaliados em bioensaios longitudinais tempo-mortalidade. O tempo para morte das lagartas de terceiro ínstar de S. frugiperda foi relativamente curto, com taxas de mortalidade de 98–100% em menos de cinco dias, independentemente do híbrido de milho Bt contendo três combinações de Cry1Ab, Cry1F, Cry2Ab e Vip3Aa. No entanto, o tempo médio de sobrevivência (ST50) das lagartas diferiu entre as populações, com os valores mais baixos e mais altos de ST50 ocorrendo para as populações PI-Cr (42 h ou 1,75 dias) e PI-Ur (66–90 h ou 2,75–3,75 dias), respectivamente. Portanto, as lagartas de terceiro ínstar da geração F1 das populações de S. frugiperda foram suscetíveis à folhagem de milho que produz Vip3Aa/Cry, e a suscetibilidade mais contrastante ocorreu nos insetos do estado do Piauí. Esses resultados indicam que a progênie de S. frugiperda de áreas altamente pressionadas com híbridos de milho Bt Vip3Aa/Cry é morta na folhagem de milho que produz proteínas Bt Vip3Aa e Cry, apesar dos relatos de campo de aumento de injúrias foliares pelas lagartas em algumas localidades. Diante desses resultados e das reclamações de produtores e técnicos, surgiu o questionamento se há alteração na suscetibilidade às toxinas Bt em outros instares larvais do inseto, principalmente aqueles mais tardios, supostamente mais tolerantes a Bt. Assim, o segundo capítulo teve por objetivo investigar se há variação na sobrevivência larval do primeiro ao quarto instar das lagartas de S. frugiperda, utilizando a geração F1 de cinco populações geograficamente distintas coletadas em campos de milho da região do MATOPIBA. Observou-se variação na suscetibilidade nos demais instares avaliados, evidenciada nas curvas de sobrevivência e na mortalidade após sete dias de contato das lagartas com a folhagem dos milhos Bt. As maiores variações e o menor percentual de mortalidade foram encontrados na população da Bahia de quarto instar e na população de Piauí-Ur no primeiro e quarto instar e houve heterogeneidade no padrão de mortalidade entre os instares dependendo do tipo milho Bt e da população do inseto. Portanto, não se detectou diminuição da suscetibilidade dos insetos nos instares tardios, reforçando a conclusão geral de suscetibilidade das populações coletados nos estados do MATOPIBA. Os resultados deste estudo auxiliam no entendimento do risco de evolução da resistência a Vip3A e no refinamento de modelos matemáticos para o uso sustentável das culturas Bt, ferramenta de manejo de insetos segura à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente. Mais estudos serão necessários para investigar a indesejável presença e injúria de S. frugiperda nos cultivos de milho a geração de ferramentas para o manejo da resistência de S. frugiperda ao milho Bt.

Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) is one of the most destructive lepidopteran pests affecting cotton, maize, and soybean crops across tropical and subtropical regions. The use of transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins has become a key strategy for its management; however, resistance evolution poses a serious threat to the sustainability of these technologies. This study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of a field‐derived population of S. frugiperda to different pyramided Bt traits expressed in cotton cultivars against third‐instar larvae. Larvae were fed leaf tissues from five cultivars, including four Bt cultivars expressing Cry1, Cry2, and Vip3A proteins in different combinations and one non‐Bt control. Survival curves, cumulative mortality, and median survival time (ST ₅₀ ) were evaluated over a 7‐day period. Results revealed that the pyramided traits Cry1Ac + Cry2Ab2 + Vip3A (≈60% mortality), Cry1Ac + Cry2Ab2 (≈57%), and Cry1Ab + Cry2Ae + Vip3A (≈55%) caused significantly higher mortality than the non‐Bt control and the Cry1F + Cry1Ac + Vip3A combination, which exhibited reduced efficacy (≈25% mortality). The Cry1Ac + Cry2Ab2 + Vip3A pyramid produced the most rapid decline in larval survival, reaching 50% mortality earlier than the other Bt treatments. Differences in larvicidal activity among Bt pyramids indicate that the efficacy of cotton events against S. frugiperda depends on the specific combination of insecticidal proteins expressed. The reduced performance of the Cry1F‐containing pyramid may reflect differences in susceptibility within the tested population and highlights the importance of continued monitoring of field populations exposed to Bt technologies. These findings provide comparative information on the susceptibility of a field‐derived population of S. frugiperda to currently available Bt cotton traits and may support future studies on resistance monitoring and insect resistance‐management programs.

The growing demand for sustainable alternative protein has driven interest in the farming of edible insects, such as Tenebrio molitor. This study evaluated the effects of diets with different proportions of poultry litter (PL) and sex ratios on the fecundity and larval viability of T. molitor, aiming at the reutilization of organic waste. Diets containing 0%, 50%, and 100% PL were tested, combined with male-to-female ratios (1:1, 1:3, 1:6, and 1:9). The results indicated that the inclusion of 50% PL balanced productivity and sustainability, increasing fecundity and larval viability. In contrast, 100% PL compromised development and reduced fecundity, possibly due to toxicity and nutritional imbalance. The 1:3 sex ratio maximized fecundity and average larval weight, regardless of diet. In PL-based substrates, the 1:1 ratio resulted in heavier larvae, suggesting that lower female densities reduce resource competition. These findings highlight the potential of T. molitor for organic waste valorization and sustainable protein production. Future studies should investigate strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of higher PL proportions and explore the interaction between microbiota, population density, and reproductive performance.

Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) is one of the most important pests of maize, causing severe foliar damage and reducing crop performance under high infestation levels. This study evaluated the effect of insecticides applied for the management of the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), on S. frugiperda infestation and injury in maize production systems. Field trials were conducted during the 2023/24 growing season at two locations in the Brazilian Cerrado. The study consisted of two independent field experiments, one conducted in Bt maize and the other in non‐Bt maize, established under distinct environmental conditions. Three treatments were evaluated: (1) acephate + bifenthrin, (2) isocycloseram + lambda‐cyhalothrin, and (3) an untreated control. Weekly assessments recorded larval density (number of larvae per 10 plants) and foliar damage scores over 7 weeks after plant emergence. Within each experimental system, insecticide treatments influenced S. frugiperda infestation levels. Among the evaluated insecticides, isocycloseram + lambda‐cyhalothrin consistently resulted in lower larval densities, particularly in the non‐Bt maize system. However, insecticide applications alone were insufficient to maintain low infestation levels throughout the crop cycle in non‐Bt maize. In the Bt maize system, infestation and damage levels remained comparatively low across treatments. These results indicate that insecticide applications targeting D. maidis can also influence S. frugiperda populations in maize fields. The integration of Bt cultivars with targeted insecticide applications may contribute to improved pest suppression; however, comparisons between maize types should be interpreted with caution due to the independent experimental conditions.