Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Proximate Composition, Fatty Acid Profile, and Microplastic Contamination of Edible Odonate Larvae (Aeshnidae: Anax sp.) in Rice Fields

This study evaluated the proximate composition, fatty acid profiles, and microplastic contamination of edible dragonfly larvae (Anax sp.) harvested from rice fields, finding nutritional value alongside measurable microplastic contamination in this traditionally consumed aquatic insect.

2023 Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in edible aquatic insect Pantala sp. (Odonata: Libellulidae) from rice fields

Researchers detected microplastics in edible dragonfly larvae collected from rice fields, finding an average of 1.34 particles per individual with fragments being the most common type, raising concerns about microplastic transfer through insect-based food chains.

2022 PeerJ 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of selected elements in two commercially available edible aquatic insects (Coleoptera) and their worldwide updated list

Researchers analyzed the elemental composition of two commercially available edible aquatic insects, noting that while they offer significant nutritional value, they may also accumulate heavy metals, pesticide residues, and microplastics from their ecosystems.

2022 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Farmed insects for sustainable food systems

This thesis investigates farmed black soldier fly larvae as a sustainable food system component, examining nutrient flows during larval rearing on agri-food residues and pig manure, larval dietary preferences, incorporation of manure nitrogen into larval biomass, global warming potential, and principles for responsible use of farmed insects as livestock feed.

2022 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Using aquatic insects as indicators of microplastic pollution in rice field ecosystems

Researchers used aquatic insect communities as bioindicators of microplastic pollution in rice field ecosystems, comparing insect diversity and abundance across fields with different levels of plastic contamination. Insect assemblages responded sensitively to microplastic loads, demonstrating their potential as low-cost monitoring tools.

2024 Ecologica Montenegrina 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined Effects of Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the Growth Performance, Feed Utilization Intestinal Health, and Blood Biomarkers of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fed Fish Meal-Free Diets

Researchers tested yellow mealworm meal as a replacement for fishmeal in Nile tilapia diets, finding that adding the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae improved fish growth, gut health, liver condition, and immune function. This suggests insect-based feeds combined with probiotics can sustainably replace traditional fishmeal in aquaculture.

2023 Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins 13 citations
Review Tier 2

Chemical safety of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens), knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research: a critical review

This critical review examines the chemical safety of black soldier fly larvae, which are increasingly used as a sustainable protein source for animal feed. Researchers assessed how rearing substrates may introduce contaminants including heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and microplastics through bioaccumulation. The study identifies significant knowledge gaps in understanding how these contaminants transfer through the larvae into the feed chain and recommends targeted future research.

2021 Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Modulation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) gut microbiota composition and predicted metabolic capacity by feeding diets with processed black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meals and fractions

Researchers fed Atlantic salmon different preparations of black soldier fly larvae — whole, de-fatted, or with exoskeletons removed — and found that full-fat larvae meal most favorably altered the gut bacteria in young salmon. The findings suggest that how insect feed is processed matters for fish gut health, which has implications for sustainable aquaculture practices.

2022 Animal Microbiome 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of heavy metals, microplastics, and food pathogens on black soldier fly larvae

Researchers fed black soldier fly larvae substrates contaminated with heavy metals, microplastics, and food pathogens to evaluate tolerance and bioconversion efficiency, finding that certain contaminants reduced larval performance and bioconversion rates with implications for insect-based waste recycling.

2025 Lirias (KU Leuven)
Article Tier 2

Diversity and relative abundance of aquatic insects of Dahaura Lake, Bahraich, U.P.

This ecological survey documented aquatic insect diversity and abundance in Dahaura Lake in India over a six-month period, finding 25 genera from multiple orders. Aquatic insects are bioindicators of water quality and could be used to assess the ecological impacts of microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems.

2023 International Journal of Advanced Academic Studies
Article Tier 2

Enhancing the bioconversion rate and end products of black soldier fly (BSF) treatment – A comprehensive review

Researchers reviewed how black soldier fly larvae can efficiently convert organic waste — including food scraps and manure — into protein-rich feed, fertilizer, and biofuel, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional livestock farming. Their work highlights the larvae's potential to reduce plastic and food waste pollution while supporting global food security.

2024 Environment Development and Sustainability 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Black soldier fly larvae should be considered beyond their use as feedstuff

This review examines emerging applications of black soldier fly larvae beyond their established use as animal feed, including waste valorization and the extraction of bioactive compounds. The study highlights the growing interest in using these insects to process challenging waste streams, including organic materials contaminated with pollutants, and explores novel uses for the bioactive molecules they produce.

2024 Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Alternative Feed for Aquaculture: State of the Art and Future Perspective

Not directly relevant to microplastics — this review surveys sustainable alternative feed ingredients for aquaculture, covering plant-based proteins, by-products, and insects as replacements for fishmeal and fish oil.

2023 PLANETARY SUSTAINABILITY 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Insect Models in Nutrition Research

This review examined insects as model organisms for nutrition research, covering their use in studying metabolic regulation, nutrient sensing, gut microbiome interactions, and diet-disease relationships. Insects offer advantages including low cost, rapid generation times, and genetic tractability, making them valuable for studying nutritional mechanisms relevant to human and animal health.

2022 Biomolecules 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence Of Microplastics in Immature Aquatic Insects of Gua Musang Tributaries in Kelantan

Researchers investigated the presence and abundance of microplastics in freshwater immature aquatic insects, specifically caddisfly (Trichoptera) and dragonfly (Odonata) larvae, collected from two tributaries of Gua Musang in Kelantan, Malaysia. The study found that microplastics had accumulated in these larvae, raising concerns about microplastic transfer through aquatic food chains in the region.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Descrição e fatores modeladores da dieta e ecologia da alimentação de girinos neotropicais: Um estudo de caso e uma revisão abrangente

This Brazilian study reviewed the feeding ecology of neotropical tadpoles, examining what they eat and their ecological roles in food webs. Amphibian larvae are increasingly documented to ingest microplastics in contaminated environments, making their diet ecology relevant to understanding exposure pathways.

2023 Austral Ecology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Macroinvertebrados aquáticos em sistemas de cultivo de arroz: Um estudo cienciométrico como síntese do conhecimento

This study reviewed 40+ years of research on tiny water creatures called macroinvertebrates that live in rice fields around the world. These small animals are important because they help keep water ecosystems healthy, but intensive farming methods are harming them. Understanding how rice farming affects these creatures matters because healthy water ecosystems in rice fields can help maintain cleaner water and better food production for humans.

2026 DELOS Desarrollo Local Sostenible
Article Tier 2

Insects to Feed the World 2022

This conference proceedings volume presents abstracts from the 2022 'Insects to Feed the World' conference in Quebec, Canada, covering research on using insects in food and feed production as part of global efforts toward sustainable protein sources.

2022 Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Insect Meal: A Valid Analytical Method to Detect It

Researchers developed and validated an analytical method for detecting microplastic contamination in commercial insect meal, finding microplastics present and underscoring the need for standardized testing as insect-based foods enter the human food chain.

2024 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

A multi-levels analysis to evaluate the toxicity of microplastics on aquatic insects: A case study with damselfly larvae (Ischnura elegans)

Researchers conducted a comprehensive study of how polystyrene microplastics affect damselfly larvae, a sensitive freshwater insect, examining effects from the whole organism down to the molecular level. Higher concentrations of microplastics impaired the larvae's movement, disrupted their gut bacteria, and caused oxidative stress in their tissues. Since aquatic insects are an important part of freshwater food webs, their sensitivity to microplastics signals broader risks to ecosystem health.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastics shape the black soldier fly larvae gut microbiome and select for biodegrading functions

Researchers found that black soldier fly larvae can adapt their gut microbiome to digest a wide range of plastics, shifting their microbial communities to favor biodegrading functions. This suggests the insects could serve as living incubators for discovering new plastic-breaking enzymes for industrial cleanup applications.

2023 Microbiome 59 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of replacing fishmeal by mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor ) on digestive enzymes activity and hepatopancreatic biochemical indices of Litopenaeus vannamei

Researchers found that replacing up to 30% of fishmeal with mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) meal in Pacific white shrimp diets improved antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced oxidative stress markers, and enhanced digestive enzyme activity, suggesting mealworm is a viable sustainable protein substitute in shrimp aquaculture.

2023 Annals of Animal Science 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating the Potential of Marine Invertebrate and Insect Protein Hydrolysates to Reduce Fetal Bovine Serum in Cell Culture Media for Cultivated Fish Production

Researchers evaluated protein hydrolysates from insects and marine invertebrates as replacements for fetal bovine serum in fish cell culture media, working toward more sustainable and cost-effective approaches for cultivated fish production.

2022 Biomolecules 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and excretion dynamics of microplastics by black soldier fly larvae and correlation with mouth opening size

Researchers examined how black soldier fly larvae ingest and excrete microplastics, finding that particle ingestion and excretion dynamics correlate with mouth opening size, raising food safety concerns for larvae used as animal feed.

2023 Scientific Reports 47 citations