All over the world, the edible insects are considered a highly nutritious food with high protein and fat content. However, the nutritional value of insect is not constant. It can be affected by species, developmental stage, rearing technology or nutrition. Therefore, this thesis was aimed at obtaining the selected nutritional value of edible insects. Analyses were focused on the determination of the crude protein content, fat content, fatty acid profile and sterols in selected species of edible insects, which can be commonly reared in the Czech Republic. At the same time we also analysed samples of insects reared on the island of Sumatra to evaluate the influence of the climate on the nutritional value. The main aim of the thesis was the determination of optimal breeding conditions, developmental stages and feed rations for obtaining good production of insects with nutritional properties suitable for human nutrition. The analyses showed a high nutritional value of selected insect species, but also confirmed the significant differences in the content of individual nutrients between different species depending on the climate conditions and developmental stage. Comparing the fat and crude protein content in edible insects and other conventional sources of meat it has been found, that the examined insect is similar to beef concerning the fat and crude protein content. The results obtained are the basis for determining the appropriate rearing conditions and developmental stages for obtaining insect with the desired nutritional properties for human nutrition.

No description available.

Demographic, biological and behavioural knowledge, together with information on the ecological interactions and impact of a species is fundamental to effective management of most mammal species. In this study, these aspects were investigated for a population of feral horses in the Namib Naukluft Park of Namibia, which lies within a part of the Namib Desert. An attempt was made to evaluate the justification of the continued existence of this exotic species in a conservation area, as well as to provide baseline information and recommendations regarding management of these horses. The study investigated the botanical component and grazing capacity of the area inhabited by the horses, as well as the demography and quality of life of the horses. The study further examined the possible negative impact the horses may have on the natural biodiversity of the area. Finally, it looked at the historic, scientific, aesthetic and economic values of the horses. The collected data was then used as a technical basis for the development of a draft management plan during a stakeholder workshop. The study proposed a range of grazing capacity values related to the total rainfall of the preceding twelve months, based on grass production in response to rainfall in different plant communities. The horses, as well as the native large herbivores, utilized the study area according to the patchy rainfall patterns typically found in the Namib Desert. The population size of the horses fluctuated between 89 and 149 over a ten year period. The social structure of the population was more significantly influenced by artificial interference than natural disasters which had implications on natality, mortality and genetic viability. Termite activity, measured as utilization of grass provided in bait boxes, did not correlate with horse density and seems, instead, to be influenced by soil properties. The results of ant and tenebrionid beetle species composition surveys and analyses did not indicate a significant negative impact from the horses on the study area. No indication could be found that the horses threaten the survival of any native species in the area or that they change the vegetation structure. It appears as if the biodiversity of the area is subjected to large natural stresses due to the continued and frequent desiccation in the desert environment. The impact of the horses is therefore probably minor to that of the climatic stochasticity. It also became apparent that the horses have developed significant historical, scientific and tourism value. The general public opinion is that the horses should be managed as a wild population with minimal artificial interference. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Zoology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Demographic, biological and behavioural knowledge, together with information on the ecological interactions and impact of a species is fundamental to effective management of most mammal species. In this study, these aspects were investigated for a population of feral horses in the Namib Naukluft Park of Namibia, which lies within a part of the Namib Desert. An attempt was made to evaluate the justification of the continued existence of this exotic species in a conservation area, as well as to provide baseline information and recommendations regarding management of these horses. The study investigated the botanical component and grazing capacity of the area inhabited by the horses, as well as the demography and quality of life of the horses. The study further examined the possible negative impact the horses may have on the natural biodiversity of the area. Finally, it looked at the historic, scientific, aesthetic and economic values of the horses. The collected data was then used as a technical basis for the development of a draft management plan during a stakeholder workshop. The study proposed a range of grazing capacity values related to the total rainfall of the preceding twelve months, based on grass production in response to rainfall in different plant communities. The horses, as well as the native large herbivores, utilized the study area according to the patchy rainfall patterns typically found in the Namib Desert. The population size of the horses fluctuated between 89 and 149 over a ten year period. The social structure of the population was more significantly influenced by artificial interference than natural disasters which had implications on natality, mortality and genetic viability. Termite activity, measured as utilization of grass provided in bait boxes, did not correlate with horse density and seems, instead, to be influenced by soil properties. The results of ant and tenebrionid beetle species composition surveys and analyses did not indicate a significant negative impact from the horses on the study area. No indication could be found that the horses threaten the survival of any native species in the area or that they change the vegetation structure. It appears as if the biodiversity of the area is subjected to large natural stresses due to the continued and frequent desiccation in the desert environment. The impact of the horses is therefore probably minor to that of the climatic stochasticity. It also became apparent that the horses have developed significant historical, scientific and tourism value. The general public opinion is that the horses should be managed as a wild population with minimal artificial interference. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Zoology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

<p> A revision of the Neotropical darkling beetle genus <i>Phrenapates</i> Gray 1832 (Tenebrionidae: Phrenapatinae) was conducted. Using over 300 specimens of Phrenapates, the genus is redescribed with its taxonomic history and classification summarized. Lectotypes are designated for <i>Phrenapates bennettii</i> Gray 1832, <i>P. ohausi</i> Gebien 1910, <i>P. dux</i> Gebien 1910, and <i>P. educator</i> Gebien 1910 to stabilize species concepts. Two new species are described: <i>Phrenapates gilloglyi</i> Rincon & Smith <b>sp. nov.</b> and <i>Phrenapates fortunaensis</i> Rincon & Smith <b>sp. nov.</b> A total of eight species are now recognized (<i>P. bennettii</i>, <i>P. ohausi</i>, <i>P. dux</i>, <i>P. mandibularis</i>, <i>P. educator</i>, <i>P. latreillei</i>, <i>P. gilloglyi</i>, and <i>P. fortunaensis</i>). Distribution maps and a key to <i>Phrenapates</i> species are provided.</p> In order to assess the status and relationships of the tribes in the subfamily Phrenapatinae, a molecular dataset was constructed for phlogenetic analyses. Nine gene regions were used: nuclear wingless (wg), mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb), mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI), nuclear Arginine Kinase (ArgK), ribosomal RNA (12S, 16S, & 18S), nuclear ribosomal 28S, and carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase domain of rudimentary (CAD). Taxa were selected based on the availability of nucleotide sequences from the GenBank and BOLD databases, as well as previously unpublished sequences provided by the Smith lab. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that: (1) the subfamily Phrenapatinae is likely monophyletic; (2) <i>Archaeoglenes</i> is sister to the other phrenapatines in all analyses which, alongside morphological evidence, supports the concept of the tribe Archaeoglenini; (3) the relationship between Phrenapatini and Penetini varied between analyses, though morphological characters used to separate the two tribes appear stable; (4) Penetini, the most species rich tribe within the subfamily, may not be monophyletic.

<p dir="ltr"><i>Philolithus</i> is a genus of large, charismatic darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) with 18 species found throughout the western portion of North America. Despite many species exhibiting mass emergence events as well as the large size of many of these species, much is unknown about this genus. <i>Philolithus</i> has had a number of taxonomic changes over the last century, a comprehensive revision of the genus was not conducted. In chapter 1, I conducted a species-level revision of <i>Philolithus </i>based on a comprehensive list analysis of external adult morphological characteristics. Based on the results of the study, I proposed the following synonymies, valid names listed in parenthesis “()”<i>;</i> <i>P. pantex </i>(= <i>P. actuosus</i>),<i> P. haruspex </i>(= <i>P. actuosus</i>),<i> P. uteanus</i> (= <i>P. actuosus</i>),<i> P. rugosus </i>(= <i>P. actuosus</i>),<i> P. jageri </i>(= <i>P. actuosus</i>),<i> P. adversus </i>(= <i>P. actuosus</i>), <i>P. reflexus </i>(= <i>P. actuosus</i>),<i> P. porcatus </i>(= <i>P. actuosus</i>),<i> P. opimus </i>(= <i>P. actuosus</i>),<i> P. </i><i>quadripennis </i>(= <i>P. carinatus</i>),<i> </i>and <i>P. sophistes </i>(= <i>P. carinatus</i>). Four new species are also described: <i>Philolithus rotundus </i><b>sp. nov.</b><i>, Philolithus zukomollis </i><b>sp. nov.</b><i>, Philolithus clarki </i><b>sp. nov.</b><i>, </i>and <i>Philolithus dorsoplanus </i><b>sp. nov. </b>Revised taxonomic keys were created for the subgenera of <i>Philolithus</i><i>,</i><i> </i>the species of the subgenera <i>Glyptasida </i>and <i>Philolithus, </i>and the subspecies of the monophyletic subgenus <i>Gonasida</i> based on Dr. Kirby Brown’s unpublished dissertation (<u>Brown, 1971a)</u><i>.</i></p><p dir="ltr">In chapter 2, I performed phylogenetic analyses of <i>Philolithus </i>using targeting enrichment, and Sanger sequenced data for the following mitochondrial loci: 12S, 16S, atp6, atp8, cob, cox1, cox2, coc3, nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad5, nad6 and the nuclear ribosomal 28S gene. Recovered topologies support the monophyly of <i>Philolithus </i>from outgroup Asidini genera, as well as the monophyly and species concepts of the subgenera of the genus.</p>

<p>Multiple mating by females is common in nature. Yet, the evolution and maintenance of polyandry remains a bit of an evolutionary puzzle. It was my aim in this thesis to reach a greater understanding of this phenomenon as well as to investigate the consequences of polyandry on the evolution of reproductive divergence in insects. In an extensive meta analysis addressing the direct effects of multiple mating on female fitness in insects, I found that insects gain from multiple matings in terms of increased lifetime offspring production. In species without nuptial feeding, increased mating rate leads to decreased female lifespan and my results strongly support the existence of an intermediate optimal female mating rate. However, results from an experimental study where I examined the relationship between female fitness and mating rate in the bean weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) showed that female fitness was maximized at two alternative mating rates, indicating that some species may exhibit a more complex relationship between the costs and benefits of mating. In the meta analysis on species with nuptial feeding, I found only positive effects of increased mating rate and the puzzle is rather what constrains the actual mating rates of females in these groups.</p><p>Sexual selection is a very potent driver of rapid evolutionary change in reproductive characters. Most research has focussed on precopulatory sexual selection, but in promiscuous species sexual selection continues after copulation and variance in male fertilization success gives rise to postcopulatory sexual selection. In this thesis I found that three allopatric populations of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) have diverged in traits related to reproduction. Male genotype affected all aspects of female reproduction, but more interestingly, males and females interacted in their effect on offspring production and reproductive rate, showing that the divergence was due to the evolution of both male and female reproductive traits.</p><p>When studying postcopulatory sexual selection, sperm competition has been put forward as the main source of variance in fertilization success. The results from a set of double-mating experiments, using the same populations of flour beetles, provided strong evidence that cryptic female choice is also important in generating variance in male fertilization success. I found not only main effects of female genotype on male fertilization success but also male-female interactions which provide more unambiguous evidence for cryptic female choice. Finally, I attempted to uncover which male signals-female receptors are involved in the reproductive divergence observed in the Tribolium populations. In a double-mating experiment I manipulated female perception of two male reproductive signals, copulatory courtship and cuticular hydrocarbons, and the results indicate that, within populations, both signals are sexually selected. However, only male cuticular hydrocarbons seem to be involved in the reproductive divergence between the populations. </p><p>In conclusion, multiple mating by female insects can be understood solely in terms of direct fitness benefits resulting from increased offspring production. I have shown that postcopulatory sexual selection can lead to rapid divergence in reproductive traits related to mating and that cryptic female choice plays an important role in this divergence.</p>

Multiple mating by females is common in nature. Yet, the evolution and maintenance of polyandry remains a bit of an evolutionary puzzle. It was my aim in this thesis to reach a greater understanding of this phenomenon as well as to investigate the consequences of polyandry on the evolution of reproductive divergence in insects. In an extensive meta analysis addressing the direct effects of multiple mating on female fitness in insects, I found that insects gain from multiple matings in terms of increased lifetime offspring production. In species without nuptial feeding, increased mating rate leads to decreased female lifespan and my results strongly support the existence of an intermediate optimal female mating rate. However, results from an experimental study where I examined the relationship between female fitness and mating rate in the bean weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) showed that female fitness was maximized at two alternative mating rates, indicating that some species may exhibit a more complex relationship between the costs and benefits of mating. In the meta analysis on species with nuptial feeding, I found only positive effects of increased mating rate and the puzzle is rather what constrains the actual mating rates of females in these groups. Sexual selection is a very potent driver of rapid evolutionary change in reproductive characters. Most research has focussed on precopulatory sexual selection, but in promiscuous species sexual selection continues after copulation and variance in male fertilization success gives rise to postcopulatory sexual selection. In this thesis I found that three allopatric populations of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) have diverged in traits related to reproduction. Male genotype affected all aspects of female reproduction, but more interestingly, males and females interacted in their effect on offspring production and reproductive rate, showing that the divergence was due to the evolution of both male and female reproductive traits. When studying postcopulatory sexual selection, sperm competition has been put forward as the main source of variance in fertilization success. The results from a set of double-mating experiments, using the same populations of flour beetles, provided strong evidence that cryptic female choice is also important in generating variance in male fertilization success. I found not only main effects of female genotype on male fertilization success but also male-female interactions which provide more unambiguous evidence for cryptic female choice. Finally, I attempted to uncover which male signals-female receptors are involved in the reproductive divergence observed in the Tribolium populations. In a double-mating experiment I manipulated female perception of two male reproductive signals, copulatory courtship and cuticular hydrocarbons, and the results indicate that, within populations, both signals are sexually selected. However, only male cuticular hydrocarbons seem to be involved in the reproductive divergence between the populations. In conclusion, multiple mating by female insects can be understood solely in terms of direct fitness benefits resulting from increased offspring production. I have shown that postcopulatory sexual selection can lead to rapid divergence in reproductive traits related to mating and that cryptic female choice plays an important role in this divergence.

Fourteen spore-forming bacterial strains were isolated and screened for entomopathogenic activity. Five displayed toxicity towards the common mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The majority of the isolates were obtained from insect larvae and insect rich environments. The three bacterial species identified were Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, Brevibacillus laterosporus Laubach and Bacillus cereus Frankland and Frankland. Bioassays were conducted using T. molitor larvae. The one isolate of B. cereus required the highest concentration of bacterial cells to achieve its LC50, whereas one of the isolates of B. laterosporus required the lowest cell concentration to achieve its LC50. Dose response curves were generated for the five best isolates, which showed that the isolate of B. laterosporus (NDR2) was substantially more toxic than the other isolates. / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.