• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.275-279
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• 2022

This study was conducted to examine the performance of poultry production and ammonia emissions from poultry litter when the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) powder was fed to broilers and ducks. In Experiment 1, a total of 180 1-day-old broilers (Arbor acres) were allocated to two treatments with three replicates in a completely randomized design. In Experiment 2, ducks were used in the same method as in Experiment 1. The dietary treatments were as follows: basal diets as control and basal diets with 1.5% Tenebrio molitor L. powder as T1. In Experiment 1, broiler production was not affected by the addition of mealworm powder (p>0.05). Ammonia from broiler litter was observed significantly different in the two treatments at 4 and 5 weeks (p<0.05); however, in other weeks ammonia measured did not show significance different (p>0.05). In Experiment 2, feeding of mealworm powder had no statistical significance on duck productivity (p>0.05). Ammonia emissions from duck litter were not statistically significant in the two treatments at 2 to 5 weeks (p>0.05); however, there was a difference at 6 weeks (p<0.05). Therefore, the addition of mealworm powder to broiler and duck diets did not only improved weight gain and feed efficiency, but also effectively reduced ammonia in poultry litter.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.387-394
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• 2013

The developmental times of mealworm beetle larvae, Tenebrio molitor were studied at six temperatures ranging from 15 to $30^{\circ}C$ with 60~70% RH, and a photoperiod of 14L:10D. Mortality of larval period was very low at 17 and $20^{\circ}C$ but did not die over $22^{\circ}C$. Developmental time of larva was decreased with increasing temperature. The total developmental time of T. molitor larvae was longest at $17^{\circ}C$ (244.3 days) and shortest at $30^{\circ}C$ (110.8 days). Egg and larvae were not developed at $15^{\circ}C$. The lower developmental threshold and effective accumulative temperatures for the total larval stages were $6.0^{\circ}C$ and 2564.1 degree-days, respectively. The relationship between developmental rate and temperature was fitted by a linear model and nonlinear model of Logan-6($r^2$=0.95). The distribution of completion of each development stage was well described by the 2-parameter Weibull function ($r^2$=0.8502~0.9390).

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2012

Two different feed(bran and swine feed) effect was tested on development of Tenebrio molitor at $25{\pm}5^{\circ}C$, $65{\pm}10%RH$. There was no significant feed effect on larval developmental periods(80.0 ~ 83.7 days), pupal length (18.1 ~ 18.7 mm) and fecundity(44.3 ~ 55.3 eggs) during first two days. However, fecundity was significantly affected by the pupal weight(P < 0.05), such that the number of eggs 172.3, 191.2, 215.0 gradually increased as pupal weight rose from 0.12 g, 0.15 g to 0.18 g, respectively. During the first two weeks of oviposition was 51.8%, which gradually decreased for further days. Longevity was $27.1{\pm}6.9$, $30.1{\pm}7.8$, $27.4{\pm}8.5$ days with increasing pupal weight of 0.12, 0.15, 0.18 g, respectively. Larval densities of 100, 300, 500 and 700 individuals reared in the container ($16{\times}21.5{\times}7cm$) resulted 67.9% of the T. molitor pupation during first three weeks. Pupal weight was decreased $146.9{\pm}6.5$, $142.1{\pm}8.3$, $122.0{\pm}9.6$, $118.5{\pm}5.2mg$ when it was reared at different larval densities of 100, 300, 500 and 700 individuals, respectively in size of($16{\times}21.5{\times}7cm$) rearing container.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.860-866
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• 2020

This study examined the characteristics of eggs obtained from layer chickens reared with feed that included Tenebrio molitor larvae, which were in turn bred using feed that included dried food waste powder. The eggs showed a tendency to be slightly thinner in the treated groups, but the Haugh unit indicating freshness was higher in the treated groups than the control group, and the 5% larval-treated group showed the highest value. The color of the yolk tended toward higher redness, lower brightness, and lower yellowness in the 5%-treated group, which also showed similar crude fat and protein values to the control group; the 10%- and 15% larval-treated groups had lower crude fat and protein values, although the carbohydrate content was higher. Structural amino acids in the treated groups showed a higher ratio of non-essential amino acids to essential amino acids than the control. The polyphenol content, which is an index of antioxidants, was highest in the 5%-treated group, and it is thought that this may affect the storage and antioxidant properties of the eggs. Thus, when employed with a feed source to maintain high protein and high fat, T. molitor larvae may cause critical changes in the nutrient content of eggs and improve their freshness.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.286-295
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• 2017

This study was performed to develop a liquid flavoring material from Tenebrio molitor larva by using Aspergillus oryzae. T. molitor with 1% A. oryzae for 48 hours yielded the highest protease activity. Different salt concentrations and rice flour addition affected the fermentation characteristics for 90 days. LN (low salt, rice flour non-addition) yielded high protease activity, and total nitrogen and amino-type nitrogen contents. LN showed Glu accounting to 15.16% of the free amino acids and yielded high scores of sweet and savory taste, and overall acceptance after 90 days. Rice flour addition group showed high content of total and reducing sugars with high amylase activity, however, low salt concentration had more effect on sensory acceptance than rice flour addition had (p<0.05). All samples had total acidity <1% and LN (90) showed the highest browning index and aroma intensity, as noted from maillard reaction, as well as good sensory acceptance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1269-1275
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• 2017

Tenebrio molitor samples were investigated as novel biomaterials and sources of food in several recent studies. However, the insects' effects on hair growth were not sufficiently researched. To develop novel and natural materials for preventing alopecia and promoting hair growth, this study investigated the antioxidant activities and hair-growth promotion effects of TMEs. To determine the antioxidant activities, the TMEs' DPPH radical- and nitrite-scavenging activities were examined. To determine hair-growth promotion effects, proliferations of human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and the murine fibroblast cell line NIH3T3 were evaluated by using an MTS assay. In addition, estimations were made for cell viabilities against cell death induced by dihydrotesterone (DHT) in DPCs and inhibitory effects against potassium channel blocking induced by tolbutamide (TBM) in NIH3T3 cells. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was 81.17%, and the nitrite scavenging activity was 43.69%; the activities were similar to the activities of blueberry extracts. Moreover, the TMEs promoted the proliferation of human DPCs and NIH3T3 cells, which were concentrated dependently. The TMEs prevented not only DHT-induced DPC cytotoxicity but also TBM's action as a potassium channel blocker in NIH3T3 cells. The results suggested that TME could be used as a functional therapeutic alopecia reagent, to prevent hair loss and to promote hair growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.490-500
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate effect of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae hydrolysate on nutrient ileal digestibility compared to those of dried mealworm larvae meal, fermented poultry by-product, and hydrolyzed fish soluble in growing pigs. Methods: A total of 12 crossbred ([Landrace×Yorkshire]×Duroc) growing pigs with average body weight of 28.70±0.32 kg were surgically equipped with simple T-cannulas. A total of 12 pigs were assigned to individual metabolic crates and allotted to one of four treatments with 3 replicates in a fully randomized design. Results: Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of dry matter (DM) was the highest in pigs fed HML diet. AIDs of crude protein (CP) were higher in pigs fed HML and DMLM diets than those in pigs fed the other two diets. AID of total amino acid was higher (p = 0.06) in pigs fed HML diet. AIDs of lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), and threonine (Thr) were similar in pigs fed DMLM and HML diets, but were higher (p = 0.05, p<0.05, and p = 0.05, respectively) than those in pigs fed FPBM or HFS diet. Pigs fed HML diet had higher standardized ileal digestibilities (SIDs) of DM and CP (p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively) compared to pigs fed the other FPBM and HFS diets. SIDs of total amino acid were not different (p = 0.06) between treatments. For SIDs of Lys, Met, and Thr, pigs fed HML and DMLM diets showed higher SIDs (p = 0.05, p<0.05, and p<0.05, respectively) than pigs fed FPBM and HFS diets. SIDs of non-essential amino acids (aspartic acid, glycine, and alanine) were higher (p<0.05, p<0.05, and p<0.05, respectively) in pigs fed HML, FPBM, and DMLM diets than those in pigs fed the HFS diet. AID and SID of glutamic acid were higher in pigs fed HML and FPBM diets. Conclusion: In conclusion, dietary supplementation of mealworm larvae hydrolysate had higher digestibility in DM, CP, Lys, Met, and Thr compared to dietary supplementation with fermented poultry by-product and hydrolyzed fish soluble.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2001

One of the innate immune reactions in invertebrates is the pro-phenoloxidase (pro-PO) activation system that is involved in the generation of superoxide, melanin synthesis, and the subsequent sequestration of foreign matter entering the hemocoel of the invertebrates. However, the molecular mechanism of this biological reaction is still obscure. To expand our understanding of the biological roles of the pro-PO activation system in invertebrates, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screening by using three regions of pro-PO as bait and a yeast two-hybrid cDNA library from Tenebrio molitor larvae as prey We isolated a novel partial cDNA clone that encodes a glycine-rich protein that interacted with the active phenoloxidase (termed phenoloxidase interacting protein, POIP). POIP consists of two domains: One is an N-terminal unique domain and the other is a C-terminal glycine-rich domain. The C-terminal glycine-rich domain showed sequential homology with those of insect antifungal proteins. Also, the yeast two-hybrid screen in a reverse orientation (using POIP as bait) yielded PO, suggesting that the PO-POIP interaction is specific. By using a 315 bP PCR fragment of the N-terminal unique region of POIP, we cloned the full-length cDNA of POIP from the Tenebruo cDNA library constructed by using E. coli injected larvae. The interaction analysis between PO, and a truncated fragment lacking the N-terminal unique region of POIP, indicated that the N-terminal unique region is necessary for interaction between PO and POIP. The expression level of the POIP mRNA is increased by bacterial injection into T. molitor larvae. This suggests that POIP might be engaged in the humoral defense reaction.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.155-163
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• 2022

The application of fungicides is indispensable to global food security, and their use has increased in recent times. Fungicides, directly or indirectly, have impacted insects, leading to genetic and molecular-level changes. Various detoxification mechanisms allow insects to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) toxicity induced by agrochemicals including fungicides. In the present study, we analyzed the mRNA expression levels of detoxifying enzymes in Tenebrio molitor larvae following exposure to non-lethal doses (0.2, 2, and 20 ㎍/µL) of a fungicide captan. Transcripts of peroxidases (POXs), catalases (CATs), superoxide dismutases (SODs), and glutathione-s-transferases (GSTs) were screened from the T. molitor transcriptome database. RT-qPCR analysis showed that TmPOX5 mRNA increased significantly 24 h post-captan exposure. A similar increase was noticed for TmSOD4 mRNA 3 h post-captan exposure. Moreover, the expression of TmCAT2 mRNA increased significantly 24 h post-treatment with 2 ㎍/µL captan. TmGST1 and TmGST3 mRNA expression also increased noticeably after captan exposure. Taken together, these results suggest that TmPOX5 and TmSOD4 mRNA can be used as biomarkers or xenobiotics sensors for captan exposure in T. molitor, while other detoxifying enzymes showed differential expression.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.617-625
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• 2017

The effects of replacing pork meat with yellow mealworms on the physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics of frankfurters were investigated in this study. The control (50% pork ham), T1 (45% pork ham + 5% yellow mealworm), T2 (40% pork ham + 10% yellow mealworm), T3 (35% pork ham + 15% yellow mealworm), T4 (30% pork ham + 20% yellow mealworm), T5 (25% pork ham + 25% yellow mealworm), and T6 (20% pork ham + 30% yellow mealworm) were prepared, replacing lean pork meat with yellow mealworm. The moisture content, lightness, sarcoplasmic protein solubility, hardness, gumminess, chewiness, and apparent viscosity of frankfurters with yellow mealworm were lower than those of the control (p<0.05), whereas the content of protein and ash, pH, and yellowness of frankfurters with yellow mealworm were higher than those of the control (p<0.05). The fat content of frankfurters in T1 (p<0.05) was the highest, and the fat content of treatments decreased with increasing yellow mealworm concentrations (p<0.05). Frankfurters with increasing yellow mealworm concentrations had lower color, flavor, off-flavor, and juiciness scores. The overall acceptability was not significantly different in the control, T1, and T2 (p>0.05). Thus, the results of this study showed that replacing lean pork meat with up to 10% yellow mealworm successfully maintained the quality of frankfurters at a level similar to that of the regular control frankfurters.