Student 10-Minute Presentation
Plant-Insect Ecosystems
Student
Carolyn Huynh (she/her/hers)
BioScience Technician
M3 Agriculture Technologies
Mesa, Arizona
Marion Le Gall (she/her/hers)
Supervisory Entomologist
M3 Agriculture Technologies
Tempe, Arizona
Nathan Moses-Gonzales
Chief Executive Officer
M3 Agriculture Technologies
Omak, Washington
Insect mass rearing is a vital component of various industries, including agriculture, biotechnology, and food production. Optimizing insect diets is crucial for ensuring high yields, efficient production processes, and the overall success of insect-based products.
The codling moth (Cydia pomonella) stands as one of the most notorious pests in apple and pear orchards worldwide. The development of resistance to chemical pesticides poses a persistent challenge for growers. Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies are crucial for effectively managing codling moth populations while minimizing environmental impact. The OKSIR program in Canada uses the sterile insect technique (SIT) to control codling moth populations in orchards. By mass producing and releasing sterilized moths, SIT disrupts the moth's reproductive cycle, safeguarding fruit crops without chemical pesticides.
In this study, using a diet similar to that of the OKSIR program, we unraveled the specific effects of macronutrient composition on various aspects of insect performance (growth, reproduction, and flight) with a fitness landscape approach. Additionally, we used the concept of the intake target in the Geometrical Framework for Nutrition approach to record the self-selected, theoretically optimal, nutritional balance with natural and synthetic ingredients.
The findings of this study have significant implications for the development of sustainable insect rearing practices and the enhancement of insect-based industries. By understanding how macronutrient regulation influences insect diets with natural ingredients, we can provide a new framework to design tailored diets that optimize resource utilization, minimize production costs, and maximize yields.