The study of α-amylase inhibitors and digestive enzymes in insect larvae offers crucial insights into insect physiology and crop protection. Insect larvae rely on α-amylase to hydrolyse starch, a ...

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A termite's own biology with help from microorganisms called protists, are keys to the insect's digestion of woody material, according to a Purdue University scientist. Michael ...

The degradation of plant defense substances by insect digestive enzymes can influence the insects' preference for certain food plants, a new study now shows for the first time. Scientists studied this ...

If you have ever maintained a garden and had issues with insect pests, it may be hard to believe that plants, in general, are a poor food source for insects. Among the greatest challenges for ...

Whenever it rains in Kenya, insects fall a like manna which, coincidentally, means 'given for free' in some Bantu dialects. A once common rainy season delicacy in Kenya is the winged termites, which ...

Crustaceans, insects and mushrooms are rich sources of the dietary fiber chitin, which activates the immune system and benefits metabolism, according to a new study in mice. Who can forget the stomach ...

The larvae of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) will eat an wide range of food system sidestreams and turn them into nutritious protein and oil. The adult phase is the short-lived, non-biting ...

Eating foods rich in dietary fiber is part of a healthy diet. One lesser-known rich source of dietary fiber called chitin can be found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects, as well as in ...

Plants are not entirely at the mercy of their herbivore enemies. Often, chemical defences ensure that the plants are inedible, or even toxic, and as a result insects and other hungry animals steer ...