Accurate classification of fish trophic strategies based solely on gut contents can be misleading, especially when plant material is ingested incidentally during predatory benthic foraging. The Pátzcuaro chub (Algansea lacustris) is a critically endangered cyprinid endemic to Central Mexico. It has historically been described as omnivorous with a tendency toward algivory, despite limited anatomical evidence. In this study, integrated anatomical, morphometric, and functional approaches were used to reassess the feeding strategy of A. lacustris and inform conservation-oriented aquaculture. Double-staining techniques revealed a specialised filtering and crushing branchial–pharyngeal system adapted to capture and process animal prey. Relative intestinal length (RIL) was measured from freshly dissected intestines. Intestinal transit time was experimentally evaluated using a formulated diet and live Artemia. Algansea lacustris exhibited a short intestine (RIL = 0.86 ± 0.10) and rapid intestinal transit (<30 min), both of which are characteristics of carnivorous teleosts. These results provide consistent anatomical and physiological evidence that A. lacustris is primarily adapted to a low-trophic carnivorous or insectivorous feeding strategy, with important implications for its ecological characterisation. Moreover, intestinal transit was faster after ingestion of live Artemia than after the formulated diet, likely due to differences in moisture content. The observed short transit times indicate the need for more frequent feeding and support the refinement of diet formulation and feeding strategies in conservation aquaculture programmes.

Bird habitat use is closely linked to survival, reflecting reciprocal interactions between avifauna and vegetation structure within managed landscapes. Coffee monoculture, coffee-based agroforestry, and community-managed forests represent land-use systems with varying capacities to support bird communities in the Utilization Block of the Batutegi Forest Management Unit (KPH Batutegi), Lampung, Indonesia. This study aimed to assess bird species diversity, species similarity, feeding guild composition, and the influence of vegetation and environmental variables across these habitat types. Bird surveys were conducted using the point count method, complemented by quantitative analyses of vegetation structure and environmental factors. Results indicate that the highest bird species diversity occurred in forest habitats (H′ = 2.490), while the greatest species similarity was observed between forest and coffee monoculture habitats (J = 0.464). Across all land-cover types, bird communities were dominated by insectivorous feeding guilds, accounting for 55% in coffee-based agroforestry, 44% in forest habitats, and 42% in coffee monoculture systems. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that vegetation attributes (diversity and density) and environmental variables (altitude, slope, temperature, and humidity) did not exert a significant influence on bird diversity. This pattern is attributed to pervasive anthropogenic pressures, including land-use homogenization, forest modification, and ongoing human disturbance. These findings underscore the need for systematic monitoring and improved land-management practices to mitigate anthropogenic impacts and enhance the ecological function of coffee-based landscapes and forest habitats in supporting avian biodiversity.

This study examines the taxonomy and physiological characteristics of hyena species, drawing from specialized scientific literature. It also investigates Islamic legal texts on the permissibility of consuming hyena meat, presenting the spectrum of jurisprudential opinions. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research combines descriptive and analytical approaches to derive informed conclusions. Scientifically, hyenas are classified into four species: three are carnivorous predators with powerful jaws and aggressive scavenging behaviors, while the fourth—Proteles cristata (aardwolf)—feeds primarily on termites, larvae, and small rodents. Islamic scholars hold divergent views regarding the consumption of hyena meat. Proponents of permissibility rely on ẓannī (probabilistic) textual evidence, whereas opponents cite qatʿī (definitive) sources that prohibit the consumption of fanged predators. This divergence may be reconciled by acknowledging the taxonomic differences among hyena species. The study posits that the hyena referenced in early Islamic texts most likely refers to the aardwolf, a species that does not exhibit typical predatory behavior. Furthermore, the claim that hyenas are hybrids of wolves is scientifically unfounded, as such hybridization would result in offspring retaining heightened predatory instincts, not insectivorous feeding patterns. The study underscores the relevance of integrating scientific taxonomy into Islamic legal reasoning.

Entomophagy (insect eating) is an age long practice by man all over the world. The nutritive values of insects are affected by many factors including processing methods. Grasshopper is one of the edible insects in Nigeria. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of processing methods on the nutritive value of adult variegated grasshopper, Zonocerus variegatus. The grasshoppers were collected from an uncultivated farmland, washed, degutted and processed in three ways namely; boiling, roasting and frying. Processed Z. variegatus were analyzed for their proximate, minerals, vitamins and anti-nutrient profile. The data obtained were analyzed by One Way Analysis of variance and means separation was done by Duncan Multiple Range Test. The roasted grasshoppers were found to have the highest value of protein (41.54%) while the boiled insects recorded the least value (18.12%). The roasted also had the highest crude fibre (8.38%), while the raw had the least value (5.04%). The highest crude fat (37.11%) was found in the fried grasshoppers while the boiled had the least crude fat (1.59%). The fried grasshoppers recorded highest value of carbohydrate (3.43%). The roasted insects had the highest values in all the eleven minerals analyzed. Lead and Nickel were not detected in all the samples. Potassium was the highest across all processing methods, ranging from 88.01- 465.99 mg/100g while manganese was the least (0.44-1.46 mg/100g). Vitamins A, E, B2, B6 and B12 were also examined. The values for all these were highest in the roasted with 0.45, 0.48, 0.013, 0.99, and 2.63 respectively. The boiled grasshoppers had the least values in all the parameter examined except in Vitamin B6 where it had a higher value of 0.84) than the fried (0.79) and raw (0.67). Tannin was highest in the fried grasshopper (4.51) and the least in raw grasshoppers (1.29). It can therefore be concluded that processing methods significantly affected the nutritive value of Z. variegatus.

This study examines food vendor research over a two-decade period (2005-2023), using both bibliometric and systematic review approaches. Using data from the Scopus database with 421 articles, the study shows a significant increase in research production, with a focus on food security, consumer behavior, and the influence of COVID-19. The bibliometric analysis reveals major study issues, such as food safety, sustainability, and the informal sector, while a systematic examination of the top 20 most-cited publications provides additional insight into the research landscape. This review emphasizes the need of include time in food accessibility studies, the need for a more nuanced understanding of food deserts, and the increased interest in organic vegetable marketing and insect eating. Also this is the first article which completely drafted in the perspective of food vendors. The study concludes by identifying limitations and suggesting future research directions, emphasizing the importance of an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating qualitative methods, focusing on specific regions, investigating the impact of the internet, and delving deeper into purchasing habits, sustainability, and socioeconomic impacts. This thorough analysis lays the groundwork for future research, encouraging the creation of more fair, sustainable, and resilient food systems.

Edible insects are considered among the most promising sustainable sources of protein to address the predicted deficiency of conventional food protein. Due to their nutritional and environmental benefits, there is an increasing interest in the ways insects could become part of the Western diet. Little is known about Greek consumers’ attitudes toward the habit of consuming insects as food. This study provides insight into Greek consumers’ preferences for insect-based food products. The data were collected through an online questionnaire (n = 1531). A two-step cluster analysis and a categorical regression were employed to classify the respondents into discernible clusters and determine the relationship between their socioeconomic characteristics and their willingness to adopt insect-based food products. Feelings of disgust and rejection were the predominant reactions to the concept of insects as food. The acceptance of novel foods derived from edible insects could be potentially enhanced by providing information regarding their positive effects, using familiar food products, and decreasing the insect’s degree of visibility by employing processed forms. Finally, the categories of insect protein-enriched food products (bakery, meat, snacks) that Greek consumers are more likely to consume were revealed. Such findings may be useful for promoting strategies regarding consuming insect-based products.

The study was focused on the anatomical characteristics of the Egyptian long-eared hedgehog's oral cavity by using gross and scanning electron microscopic examinations. The upper lip had an elongated T-shaped snout-like structure. The hard palate had a triangular rostral part (which had a semicircular area and a caudal ridged area with the first 3 or 4 ridges) and a caudal part (which contained seven or eight slightly oblique ridges with raphae). The diamond-incisive papilla is flanked on both sides by a groove and a fissure. The hard palate surface had glandular openings and a microplicae system. The uneven, soft palate's surface had multiple grooves and folds with 12–16 Gemmal papillae. The Gemmal papillary surface had three to four taste pores with microplicae and glandular openings. The dorsal lingual surface had six filiform subtypes: pointed (on the tip, rostral border, and median apical region), triangular (on the lateral apical and circumvallate regions), bifurcated (on the median tip only), leaf-like (on the median body region), branched (on the lateral root region), and small pointed papillae (on the median root). There were two fungiform subtypes: ovals (on the rostral border and lateral region) and rounds (on the median apical region and body). The caudal root part had a triangular arrangement of three circumvallate papillae. In conclusion, the finding confirmed its oral cavity adaptation with its insectivorous feeding habits and Egyptian environment.Graphical

In the past years, the food security issue has become clearer, and resources have been sought to improve the sustainable food chain with the aim of reducing the harm to the environment caused by traditional food systems. Through the arrival of edible insects, sustainability and nutritional prowess emerge as a solution in view. On the downside/on the other/however, public acceptance is one of the key factors that limit their (AV) placement. The scientists have frantically worked on the identification of the factors that make up one's decision to improve on the level of eating insects. This paper details the research conducted with a group of 125 students who come from numerous public institutions in Pakistan, with the focus to determine their readiness to incorporate consuming bugs which is a fresh protein source in their cultural sphere. The investigation was multifaceted one and covered the spectrum from disgust effects, safety risks, to cultural factors, knowledge gap, environmental issues, and religious considerations. Implementing a five-point Likert scale questionnaire administered through the use of Google Forms, the study brought to the fore critical aspects that stimulate the decisions and intentions of students regarding whether to eat insects to control the escalating locust population. The research pinpoints several factors as being the most important in shaping participants´ attitude towards the idea of either trying or avoiding the locust-based food – those would be something like disgust, deeply held religious views, and merely care toward the surrounding environment. On top of this, cultural influences and knowledge gaps became the essential determinants that worked to promote those decisions. This analysis applied a multipronged approach to investigate the multifarious parts that affect food choices, especially with regard to dietary innovation such as locusts. This research, not only shows a broader approach to the analysis of insect consumption in Pakistan but also contributes to effective educational programs leading to a rise in awareness level on this issue. These strategies are quite essential in the context of the issue and can contribute to the development of cheap, high-quality food and the resolution of the global food security quandary.

Heteropoda spiders are an essential predator in tropical and subtropical areas because they trap and eat insects, cockroaches, and other domestic soft-bodied pests in crops. Pantropical huntsman spiders do not use webs to catch prey, like other stray spiders do. They catch the insects they eat using their powerful chelicerae (jaws) and quick movements. More than 140 individuals belonging to Heteropoda languida Simon, 1887 species, were collected from Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and brought back to lab, and then stored in 75% ethanol. Among which 36 individuals were males and 104 individuals were females. Our research findings provide previously unknown male of Heteropoda languida Simon, 1887 for the first time, and the female is re-described from Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan, China. Our results also adding a little knowledge to Heteropoda species distribution, and may help to study the biogeography and dispersal route of Heteropoda spiders. In this paper, we provide the diagnosis, description, illustration, and field photos with distribution map for both males and females.

Abstract Owing to its potential as an alternative source of protein, entomophagy (insect eating) has received substantial attention from researchers and development actors. However, despite its relatively high acceptance in some regions, such as western Kenya, there is a limited understanding of the factors that drive entomophagy. Therefore, we conducted a study in western Kenya in Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia counties utilising data from a random sample of 442 households to analyse consumption patterns and determinants of insect-eating behaviour. The analysis used the extended theory of planned behaviour and structural equation modelling to determine entomophagy. Termites, grasshoppers, locusts, dung beetles, crickets, and black ants are examples of insects eaten by these communities. Termites are the most known and consumed insect among households. Most households prefer to eat the insects as a whole and not processed. Results indicate that attitude (ATT), perceived behavioural control (PBC), social norms and objective knowledge (OK) positively and significantly influence households’ intention to eat insects, whereas environmental concerns and perceived barriers (neophobia) have no significant effect. In the model where we include objective knowledge and environmental concern, the effects of ATT and PBC are lower. PBC reduces the effect of ATT on behavioural intention while directly negatively affecting entomophagy. Intention to eat is positively associated with insect-eating behaviour. In addition to these psychological factors, we found that culture significantly explains entomophagy. Once we condition on psychological factors, socioeconomic factors do not have any influence on entomophagy. ATT and OK about insects and culture significantly predict preference for termites over beef – suggesting the positive role of nutrition information. These results show the importance of psychological variables and culture in influencing entomophagy.

Growing populations, changing dietary preferences and limitations on natural resources have meant that finding an alternative to traditional animal-based protein sources is a priority. Insects have been proposed as a possible solution due to their many benefits including low resource inputs and rich nutritional profile. However, insects are not consumed on a large scale by Australians. Food neophobia (reluctance to try new foods) could be contributing to this delay and as such, this study aimed to explore the role of food neophobia on protein food source habits and willingness to eat insects as food. A total of 601 participants (76.2% female, 23.8% male) completed an online survey which included a questionnaire measuring food neophobia status, participants' self-reported usual protein dietary habits, their previous insect-eating experience, future willingness to eat insects, and potential motivations to include insects in their diet. Results indicated a strong association between food neophobia and participants' dietary choices such as following a vegan or vegetarian diet (p = 0.024). In addition, food neophobia was correlated with a reduced likelihood of previous insect-eating experience (p < 0.001), as well as a decreased willingness to eat insects in the future (p < 0.001). This study provides a greater understanding of the role of food neophobia status and dietary choices in consumers' willingness to eat insects and identifies possible motivating factors that may increase the likelihood of consumers' future insect eating.

Bats, from the Molossidae family, are found on all continents. Molossus rufus, are found in Brazil, having an insectivorous feeding habit. The present study aimed to characterize and locate the myenteric plexus in the gastrointestinal tract of Molossus rufus bats from the northwest region of the state of Paraná. Necropsy of five male specimens was performed and the structures corresponding to the stomach and intestines were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histological preparation of the material, and 0.5cm of each segment was followed for identification of myenteric ganglia using the technique of Giemsa and the histochemistry of NADPH-diaphorase. The myenteric plexus is found between the circular and longitudinal strata of the tunica muscularis, with neurons gathered in ganglia surrounded by bundles of collagen fibers. The ganglia observed in the membrane preparations were formed by different numbers of neurons, interconnected by bundles of nerve fibers, where isolated neurons could be observed. The location of the myenteric plexus found in bats of the species Molossus rufus is similar to those found in other mammals.

Abstract As food supply practices must adapt to the reality of limited natural resources, alternative solutions must be found to meet the dietary needs of a growing world population. Edible insect consumption represents a sustainable substitute to that of conventional meat. Psychological barriers are largely responsible for dictating Westerners’ aversion towards insect eating. As adolescents have been less exposed to socio‐cultural constructs and as their food habits are less entrenched, they might express a greater openness towards edible insect products. This study aims to assess the impact of exposure and familiarisation with edible insects on adolescents' attitudes towards entomophagy. Between February 2018 and January 2020, 662 students aged 15–16 years from a Canadian high school engaged in a pedagogical insect farming project during which they had the chance to learn about insects as a sustainable foodstuff, while being familiarised with insect farming methods. Three different student cohorts took part in this project. The first and second had the opportunity to raise crickets and the third mealworms. Relying on surveys distributed before and after these 3 month projects, time‐based and type‐based analyses regarding students’ initial attitudes towards edible insects and their evolution over the course of these activities were performed. Results showed that the project greatly enhanced their acceptance towards edible insect consumption, suggesting that the speed and impact of peer influence amongst adolescents could be leveraged in promotional efforts to accelerate the adoption of edible insects.

Munching Bugs: How insect eating gave early mammals a toothy edge.

Abstract Entomologists and proponents of insect food have often seen in Vincent M. Holt’s Why Not Eat Insects? (London: Field &amp; Tuer, 1885) the work of a precursor. Holt’s plea to consume insects in Victorian Britain, as an aid to address food poverty and diversify Western diets, certainly resonates with the environmental and social predicaments of the twenty-first century. However, the text and the context of this publication have not been fully examined. The book has attracted comparatively little attention from historians who are yet to unravel why and how Holt could raise the very question ‘why not?’ This article aims to bridge this gap, with a close reading of the sources and the language deployed by Holt, who heavily relies on European travel writings to make his case. Relocating Why Not Eat Insects? in this context throws into relief how issues of class and colonialism were constitutive of a wider discussion about eating insects in English-speaking prints in the nineteenth century. To explore this, the article also investigates responses from readers in the 1880s and 1890s, through reviews published in the British Isles, Australia, and the United States. Ultimately, examining these aspects alerts us to the dangers of celebrating Holt as a pioneer of insect food and an inspiration for the twenty-first century, for Holt partook in what Lisa Heldke terms ‘cultural food colonialism’, which we are at risk of reproducing when using his text uncritically and without regard to its social and colonial context.

“Why eat insects?” you may ask. The answer is simple: because they are nutritious and because, if we want to save the planet, the future of food is insects! Even if you have never considered eating insects, this book might change your mind. Gina Louise Hunter, a food anthropologist at Illinois State University, will take you on an adventurous voyage across various historical and geographical locations by tracing the steps of entomologists, historians, and anthropologists who have studied and tasted insects. Hunter also provides the reader with information on the future status of entomophagy, the practice of eating insects. The book is visually stunning, and every page is glossy. Edible Insects contains numerous photographs and insect recipes, a few of which I tried and enjoyed very much!Insects have been eaten by humans for thousands of years. It’s estimated that today about 2 billion people eat insects as a regular part of their diet and that at least 2,111 different species of the animals are eaten. Examples of edible insects include crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, cockroaches, beetles, termites, ants, bees, wasps, caterpillars, and mealworms. Bugs are widely eaten, too. (In North America, the word bug is often used by the public to mean insect, but scientifically bugs comprise a distinct order of the class Insecta.) Insects are sometimes eaten raw but are often cooked. Preparation techniques include boiling, roasting, grilling, and baking. Insects are also stir-fried, deep-fried, or added to porridge or rice. In many parts of the world today, the animals are a delicacy.This engaging and thought-provoking volume contains numerous well-referenced anecdotes and facts about edible insects, making it a short but well-balanced overview of the diversity and richness of insect-eating cultures. Hunter’s style is warm and welcoming to readers of all backgrounds, as well as nontechnical and personal, as she tracks the role of insects as human food, from our prehistoric past to current food trends. In doing so, the author takes the reader across many cultures while making clear the potential of insects to alleviate global food shortages and provide a better way to manage our natural resources. The author is also candid about insect consumption and misinformation, writing that consuming insects is “not the magic bullet to ending world-wide huger” but rather one of the tools we can use to better manage food disparities and combat climate change. The last chapter in the book highlights the promise and challenges of insect farming on a large scale and provides the reader with a sustainable solution for alternative animal protein production.While Edible Insects may not inspire you to take a bite of a mealworm chocolate chip cookie just yet, it will at the very least increase your appreciation and love for the largest group of animals on Earth, the insects!

The use of chemical pesticides to manage locust populations in natural ecosystems is likely to impact non-target arthropods and their predators. However, the relative effects of different locust control applications on Australian birds are unknown. Aerial applications of fipronil and fenitrothion are examples of two pesticides used in locust control in semiarid Australia. To test the relative impacts of pesticides on non-target fauna, pesticides were applied to replicate sites using aerial ultra-low-volume application methods. The body condition and biomarkers of pesticide exposure in resident white-winged fairy wrens (Malurus leucopterus leuconotus) at treatment and control sites were measured for two weeks before and after treatments. No measures suggested negative impacts of pesticide applications. However, birds monitored at treatment sites gained mass, possibly due to indirect impacts of pesticides on bird feeding patterns or the availability or behaviour of insect prey. Bird mass measures remained high at fipronil sites, whereas the mass of birds at fenitrothion sites returned to baseline levels within one week. As this study was conducted during dry conditions, when locust plagues are less likely, future insecticide research should also consider the availability of insect prey, its effect on insectivore feeding behaviour and the interaction of rainfall events.

PurposeWhile recent academic research on entomophagy has predominantly focused on adults, the purpose of this child-centred research is to obtain a better understanding of young consumer acceptance of insect-based foods.Design/methodology/approachTwo qualitative studies were conducted with a total of 43 French children aged 8–13 years. Study 1 (n = 22), based on semi-directive interviews, and Study 2 (n = 21), based on focus groups, included projective techniques and exposure to different types of insect-based products to help children express their feelings and thoughts.FindingsThe evidence shows that in Western children’s minds, insects are considered as culturally non-edible. Children predominantly reject insects as food because of their sensory properties and the disgust they arouse. However, their interest in eating insect-based food is embedded within experiential contexts specific to childhood, in particular the peer group, which makes insect-eating fun and challenging, and the family, which offers a protective and reassuring setting.Practical implicationsThe authors advocate changing children’s sensory perception of insect-eating food through sensory and participatory activities. Manufacturers and policymakers should also draw on children’s peer culture to associate insect-eating with positive social experiences and foster peer influence.Originality/valueDrawing on cognitive psychology theories and the literature in food science on food rejection, the authors contribute to emerging consumer research on alternative food consumption (AFC) focusing on cognitive, emotional and social factors of acceptance or rejection of insect-based foods by children.

Abstract Five male specimens of the species Molossus rufus from north‐western Parana were captured, identified, packaged and transported to the laboratory for weighing and later euthanasia with isoflurane. They were laparatomized for evaluation of macroscopic characteristics and the digestive tube segments were collected for fixation in 10% neutral formalin for histological processing, after 48 h of fixation. Macroscopically, the digestive tube had an oesophageal segment in the abdominal cavity, with a J‐shaped saccular stomach, in addition to a small intestine divided into duodenum, jejunum‐ileum and terminal ileum. In the large intestine, an organ dilatation was observed from the small intestine with a one‐way oral‐aboral ending in the anus, which was called the descending colon. Morphological similarity of the walls of all segments with those of other mammals was observed; however, it presented some peculiarities such as the absence of oesophageal glands, Brunner in the intestine, cecum and appendages. The anatomical disposition and tissue pattern were similar to that found in other insectivorous species. The adaptations of the digestive tube of this species are possibly due to the insectivorous feeding habits, which can be impacted due to anthropic actions in foraging environments.

We examined the histological structure of the kidneys of Myotis myotis to better understand their structural adaptations to dietary habits. M. myotis is an insectivorous bat species that belongs to the family Vespertilionidae. The kidneys of M. myotis are unilobular, bean-shaped, and surrounded by a renal capsule. The two parts are distinguished by a thin cortex and a thicker medulla. Renal corpuscles consist of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule. The proximal tubule consists of cubic cells with a well-developed brush border, whereas the distal tubule is lined with a simple cubic epithelium without a brush border. The Henle's loop, located in the medullary region, was composed of flat cells. The microvilli of proximal tubule epithelial cells and basal lamina of proximal and distal tubule epithelial cells were periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive. The PAS-positive reaction of the microvilli of proximal tubular epithelial cells and basal lamina of proximal and distal tubule epithelial cells is due to the presence of glycogen, which may be used as an energy substrate during absorption. The presence of acidic glycoconjugates in the papilla was demonstrated by Alcian blue (pH2.5)-PAS staining. According to the result of silver impregnation staining, it was determined that reticular fibers form a dense fibrillary network in the kidney parenchymal tissue. Reticular fibers are responsible for demarcating and supporting the borders of cells by forming a thin network of fibrils beneath the basal lamina of the cells. Structural features in the kidney, such as a thin cortex and thicker medulla, long conical papilla, and division of the thick medulla into inner and outer regions, of M. myotis may be an adaptation to produce concentrated urine, thereby reducing water loss associated with insectivorous feeding habits.