Rudy Caparros Megido

University of Liège | ulg · Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L. 1758), is an omnivorous saprophagous insect with a high potential for valorizing organic by-products rich in carbohydrates. Among carbohydrates, H. illucens relies on soluble sugars for the growth and storage lipid synthesis. This study aimed to assess the impact of common soluble sugars on the developme...

The issue of consumer acceptance is largely investigated in the literature relative to entomophagy, as edible insects are not a common part of European food habits. This topic was also discussed in the current study, which analysed 1,382 responses to an online survey in Belgium. The first aim of this research was to study the potential influence of...

The interest in edible insects’ mass rearing has grown considerably in recent years, thereby highlighting the challenges of domesticating new animal species. Insects are being considered for use in the management of organic by-products from the agro-industry, synthetic by-products from the plastics industry including particular detoxification proce...

Description de l’étude. La consommation d’insectes en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) semble être culturelle et ne varierait que selon l'emplacement, la population d'insectes et le groupe ethnique. Elle ferait partie intégrante de l’identité culturelle des Congolais.Objectif. L’étude vise à analyser les représentations sociales de la consomm...

Modelling the thermal response of insect pests is a valuable tool for predicting the stage development of the population, supporting the formulation of more sustainable and effective control strategies. This study focuses on Bruchus rufimanus, a specific pest of Vicia faba L. responsible for damages caused by larvae that develop inside the seeds. I...

Human consumption of insects has previously been examined in cross-cultural studies. However, such studies rarely include African countries and willingness-to-pay for insect-based food has never been assessed in cross-cultural studies. The current study presents a cross-cultural study conducted with 409 urban dwellers from Belgium (191 males; 218 f...

The role of edible caterpillars in human nutrition is increasingly undeniable, given their contribution to food security, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, some local species are almost unknown and the lack of data on their nutritional composition limits the integration of consumption in consumer diets. This article therefore focuses on th...

Imbrasia epimethea is one of the most esteemed and popular caterpillar species for its remarkable organoleptic and nutritional values. Its consumption extends throughout the Kwilu province and nearly the entire Democratic Republic of the Congo, but its supply is very limited. The high anthropogenic pressure and the poor harvesting techniques employ...

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is currently an important pest of maize crops worldwide not only because of its dispersal ability but also because of its polyphagous feeding behaviour. Lack of sufficient information on the management of the fall armyworm attacks remains a crucial problem for maize sm...

Background The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), poses a threat to the food security of populations in sub-Saharan Africa because of its damage to maize crops. As alternative to the use of hazardous pesticides, microbial control is one of the most promising sustainable approaches adopted to limit the...

Bruchids are the most important pests of leguminous seeds in the world. In this study, the focus was done on Callosobruchus maculatus, a serious pest of Vigna unguiculata seeds. As no efficient control methods preventing collateral effects on beneficials currently exist, this study investigated whether RNA interference (RNAi) could provide a new bi...

Broad bean weevils (BBWs-Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are serious pests of field bean seeds that hamper the promotion of this crop in the diversification of European cropping systems. Recent research has identified different semiochemical lures and trap devices for the development of semiochemical-based control strategies of BBWs. In this study, two...

This study analyzed the protein content of ten edible insect species (using the Dumas method), then focused on the amino acid (AA) profiles of the six major commercially relevant species using HPLC (high-pressure (or performance) liquid chromatography). The protein contents varied significantly from 46.1% to 52.9% (dry matter); the Orthoptera repre...

There are 472 edible insect species in sub-Saharan Africa, of which 31% are Lepidoptera. Wild harvesting is still the main source of supply for these prized species to this day, with some harvesting techniques negatively impacting the environment. The successful production of edible caterpillars requires the appropriate and efficient implementation...

This paper reviews edible insect species and the host plant diversity associated with them in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including their seasonal availability throughout the year. Entomophagy practices are mapped on country scale and nationwide patterns of consumption are explored. Moreover, motives for consumer acceptance (or reje...

Poultry farming, because of its many potentialities (i.e. short duration of reproduction and production cycle, rapid return on investment), occupies a place of choice in development strategies and the fight against poverty in most African countries. In Niger, West Africa, poultry are fed specific protein-providing feed ingredients (such as fishmeal...

Caterpillars are a favourite traditional food that potentially represents the largest proportion of total animal protein consumed by people in Masi-Manimba, Kwilu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. However, caterpillars are becoming increasingly scarce, with no inventory data existing for this region. This study aims to contribute to the valor...

Insect consumption is not as common in Gabon compared to other African countries. Moreover, this food practice is threatened by the westernization of eating habits, which is particularly exacerbated in urban areas. Innovation is one of the solutions to promote entomophagy. For example, in Western countries, insect industry develops new foods, consi...

The search for quality alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil in the fish feed industry has occupied many researchers worldwide. The use of black soldier fly meal (BSFM) as a substitute has increased. This study evaluated the effect of this substitution on fish growth and nutritional quality through a meta-analysis of the literature. A list of studi...

In Belgium, as everywhere in Europe, edible insects are not yet introduced in food habits. Edible insects must reach a certain level of quality to be accepted as food by European people. Quality is defined as “the requirements necessary to satisfy the needs and expectations of the consumer”(1). In the case of food, quality is divided into five dime...

Faba bean is a globally produced agricultural crop due to the high protein content in seeds. However, yields strongly vary depending on biotic and abiotic factors. Here, we evaluated the combined effect of faba bean varieties and climate on crop productivity, seed quality and Bruchus spp. infestation to identify most promising faba bean varieties f...

Entomophagy is well established in the food habits of Africa; however, country-wide knowledge remains limited for several countries, including Gabon. Here, two surveys on entomophagy were conducted in Gabon through face-to-face interviews. The first survey collected information on insect eating habits from 169 potential consumers. Edible insects fo...

Simple Summary: The amount of waste produced by the population creates general health problems in terms of public health and hygiene. In recent years the common housefly (Musca domestica L. 1758) has been widely used in the treatment of organic wastes. This study aims to assess the effect of egg loading of the common housefly on maggot development...

In Europe, edible insects are unusual in food habits. Food neophobia and disgust are considered as major barriers to western entomophagy development. Strategies to im-prove the consumer acceptance are discussed in the literature but are mainly related to product and individual factors. However, other factors are involved and need attention as conte...

The edible caterpillar Aegocera rectilinea Boisduval 1836, locally called Mikombidila, is collected from its wild habitat for consumption by people in the western region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Its production by farming would represent a valuable source of animal protein for local populations. Working toward this end, the present...

This study aimed to compare the enrichment capacity of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) of two dipteran species, Hermetia illucens - black soldier fly (BSF) - and a blowfly, Chrysomya putoria (CP), and to test its influence on growth, digestive activities and immune responses of Nile tilapi...

Bruchus rufimanus Boheman 1833 is a serious pest of Vicia faba L. preventing the valuation of seeds. Limited control methods against this pest suggested few alternatives, out of which entomopathogenic fungi were proposed as promiscuous control levers, but no data precisely describe the optimal method of application on large scale crops. First resul...

L'alimentation de la volaille nécessite un apport essentiel en protéine. Ces protéines sont introduites aux animaux à travers des ingrédients alimentaires comme les légumes à graines et leurs tourteaux (arachide, soja, etc.), les farines de poisson, etc. Ces sources protéiques bien qu'étant indispensables en alimentation de la volaille, sont assuje...

The aquaculture sector is expanding rapidly and needs an increasing supply of fishery products. To ensure an ecological transition of this sector, alternative feed ingredients are required for fish nutrition. Potential alternatives include insects, particularly the black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens L. 1758), which is being increasingly targ...

Promoting black soldier fly (BSF) rearing in Benin to replace fishmeal in fish diet could reduce fish production costs. This study aims to set up a breeding technique of BSF as a protein source. BSF reproduction has been carried out in sunlight. Two densities (8500 individuals/m³ and 10500 individuals/m³) associated with 2 attractants (soybean and...

Promoting the cultivation of native legumes, such as faba beans (Vicia faba L.) within the European Union is anticipated to contribute to the sustainability of cropping systems and provide food and feed proteins as alternatives to unsustainable imports. However, efficient alternative control methods to pesticides must be implemented to combat key p...

The study was designed to evaluate the effects of total remplacement of fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) by vegetable oil and black soldier fly (BSF) larval meal enriched with fatty acids (FAs) in Nile tilapia juveniles. Fish were fed a FMFO control diet compared to a non‐FA‐enriched BSF diet (BSF/T0) and diets enriched in linolenic acid‐ALA (BSF/T...

To meet the growing demand for fish in human nutrition, aquaculture is developing increasingly from marine fishery products (i.e. fish meal and fish oil). New environmentally sustainable protein and lipid resources are recommended for this sector and insects, particularly black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (L. 1758), are considered as promi...

Purpose Edible insects are considered as a novel food in western countries, with their introduction to cuisine having to overcome major barriers, such as disgust. The studies related to acceptance of entomophagy have exponentially grown since 2015. However, such studies generally focus on people older than 18 years old. The purpose of this study is...

Inventory of agricultural by-products potentially usable for the production of Hermetia illucens (L. 1758) as fish feed in Benin This research aims to identify and select agricultural by-products of interest for the breeding of Hermetia illucens (L. 1758) in Benin. Data on the nature, availability and market value of agricultural by-products were...

Although increasingly targeted in animal nutrition, black soldier fly larvae or prepupae (BSF, Hermetia illucens L. 1758) require the characterization and modulation of their fatty acid profile to become fully integrated within the feed sector. This improvement will only be possible by the understanding of underlaying biochemical pathways of fatty...

For insect-based formulations, food analysis is essential to ensure authenticity. According to the spread of the real-time-polymerase chain reaction technique, it started to be tested for entomological occurrence in food with limited success according to the insect species to be detected. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic methods are increasingly b...

Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer 1778), commonly named the poultry red mite (PRM), is considered to be the most harmful ectoparasite in poultry farms in Europe. This species feeds on the blood of laying hens, but spends most of its time hidden in cracks and crevices around hen nests. To control PRM populations in poultry houses, chemical pesticides ar...

Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer 1778), commonly named the poultry red mite (PRM), is considered to be the most harmful ectoparasite in poultry farms in Europe. It feeds on the blood of laying hens but spend most of its time hidden in cracks and crevices around hen nests. The aim of our project is to avoid the use of synthetic compounds to control PRM...

Bruchus rufimanus Boheman 1833 (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae) is a serious pest of Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae) preventing the valuation of crop products due to its post-embryonic development taking place inside forming seeds. However, the European Union, concerned about the sustainable development of its agriculture, promotes V. faba crops for its multi...

Endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria are to date considered the most widespread symbionts in arthropods and are the cornerstone of major biological control strategies. Such a high prevalence, is based on the ability of Wolbachia to manipulate their hosts’ reproduction. One manipulation called “cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI)” is based on the death of...

The last decade has seen a surge of interest and investment in insects as food and feed. Has the Global North ever before given a novel and neglected food group so much attention? In this chapter we describe how and why multiple sectors - academia, media, industry - have begun to popularise and call for a resurgence in the use of insects as food in...

The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (L., 1758) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is an endemic fly species from the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate zones of America. This saprophagous species relies on its environment where it finds the decomposing matter for the larvae to grow. The polyphagous diet and the macronutrient quality (mainly...

Insects are seen as a solution to the increasing demand for protein sources for food. However, entomophagy has unfortunately been linked to allergic reactions in Europe with people with professional contacts. As mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and crickets (Acheta domesticus) have recently become commercially available (both whole or in food formulati...

To address the future challenge of food availability (9 billion people on earth by 2050), non-common sources of proteins need to be investigated. Insects are consumed mainly in Africa, Asia and South America, but entomophagy is now being increasingly promoted in Europe and North America. In addition to consumption in raw form, insects are often coo...

Edible insects are systematically targeted as a major future food for European consumers but success in introducing entomophagy in Western society depends on factors governing consumers’ attitudes towards insect-based products. Effectively, as for sushi in the 2000s, edible insects are considered as new food products in Europe and are deeply relate...

Cricket farming can have a positive impact on rural development and rural economy in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, crickets have the potential to address food and nutrition insecurity and promote food sovereignty through the promotion of local production and consumption. This paper presents and discusses five complementary studies con...

Mealworms are new food products in Europe, but consumers do not know how to cook them. Although cooking could increase the safety, acceptability, palatability, and digestibility of insects, the heating process could have deleterious effects on protein and lipid quality. Therefore, this study characterized the effects of different household cooking...

In poultry, feed based on maggots, like larvae of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is an attractive option to substitute current ingredients which are expensive and often in direct or indirect competition with human food. Little information is currently available on the utility of these larvae in poultry feed, so goals of this study were to de...

Purpose Broader acceptance of entomophagy (i.e. human consumption of insects) will depend on factors that impact consumers’ perceptions of edible insects. The purpose of this paper is to examine how a broad-based information session would affect consumers’ perceptions and attitudes about an edible insect product. Design/methodology/approach During...

After death, the human body undergoes various processes that result in the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The interest in these VOCs has increased substantially in recent years because they are key attractants for necrophagous insects and vertebrate scavengers. Identifying cadaveric VOCs has required the effective development of ana...

In order to explore some potential insect sources of food lipids, the lipid compositions of three Orthopterans (Acheta domesticus, Conocephalus discolor and Chorthippus parallelus) were analyzed and compared with those of Tenebrio molitor larvae. A. domesticus, Co. discolor, Ch. parallelus and T. molitor larvae were found to contain approximately 1...

Edible insects are gaining more and more attention as a sustainable source of animal protein for food and feed in the future. In Belgium, some insect products can be found on the market, and consumers are sourcing fresh insects from fishing stores or towards traditional markets to find exotic insects that are illegal and not sanitarily controlled....

Insects, particularly those belonging to the family Acrididae (grasshoppers), are commonly consumed as human food in many parts of the world. Grasshoppers of the species Chorthippus parallelus are abundantly found throughout Europe. However, these insects were not consumed by Europeans till now, but could possibly be used as human food, which is wh...

Exploitation of non-timber forest products, including edible insects, plays an important role in food habits and local economies of indigenous people of Congo. Entomophagy has been a tradition in the Republic Democratic of Congo (RDC) for centuries; however, a complete inventory of species that consumed is not available. Thus, rigorous taxonomic id...

During the past few years, entomophagy has been increasing in significance. As insects are generally high in protein, they are principally considered as meat substitutes. Nevertheless, in Western countries, meat substitute consumption is actually very low, principally due to food neophobia and poor sensory qualities in comparison with meat. In inse...

In the Tunisian south, the heated greenhouses are an important axis of development of agriculture thanks to the big geothermal potential of this zone. Currently, this sector suffers from several phytosanitary problems. In the last years, a new insect, Tuta absoluta, threaten the cultures of cultivated tomatoes in heated greenhouses. To improve cont...

In a context of dwindling lands and resources, associated with a strong dependence on protein for feed and food, new methods of production and/or new food must be developed without affecting the quality of food, natural habitat and biodiversity of animal and vegetable species. As such, insects appear more and more as a solution of the future. To da...

One of the most damaging insect pests to tomato crops is the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta. Current control methods are not efficient at regulating this pest below the economic threshold, leading to the development of new strategies based on its natural enemies. In this study, we evaluated the ability of Macrolophus pygmaeus to discriminate T. ab...

Background Health status of the indigenous people of the Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia, is significantly lower compared to the rest of the nation. The domestication and mass production of insects may represent a sustainable, cost effective and high quality alternative source of protein to traditional livestock. This study aimed to optimise a cheap...

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a devastating pest that develops principally on solanaceous plants throughout South and Central America and Europe. In this study, we tested the influence of three levels of T. absoluta infestations on the attraction and oviposition preference of adult T. absoluta. Three infestation...

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is considered to be a major pest that damages tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L; Solanaceae) crops in South American, European, and Mediterranean countries. This insect species is polyphagous (i.e., feeds on many types of food); hence, it could also develop on other cultivated host plants...

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), originates from South America, and remains one of the main tomato pests in this continent. Since its introduction to Europe in 2006, Mediterranean countries have also been exposed to this pest. Because of the endophytic habits of the larvae and ability of adults to reproduce parthenogenetically, chemic...

Entomophagy is not well accepted in W estern E uropean populations but it is common in the world. In the future, populations from developed countries should adapt to other sources of animal proteins because traditional breeding of beef, poultry or pork will become unsustainable. This study was performed to assess the perception of entomophagy in th...

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is now considered to be one of the most damaging invasive pests of tomatoes in the world. Tomato is regarded as the main host of T. absoluta, but the pest can also feed, develop and reproduce on other cultivated Solanaceae, such as potato (Solanum tuberosum L). In the present study, we...

We here review pheromone control strategies for species-specific and environmentally safe management of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). This insect pest originates from South America and is now considered to be one of the most damaging invasive pests of tomatoes in the Mediterranean Basin countries of Europe and Nort...

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidop-tera: Gelechiidae), originates from South America and is now considered to be one of the most damaging invasive pests of tomatoes in the Mediterranean Basin countries of Europe and North Africa. The preventing pest mating control methods include: (1) the use of synthetic pheromones for male attraction an...