ABSTRACT Minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) estimation in forensic entomology generally requires scene investigation and the acquisition of scene temperature and insect evidence. In practice, however, direct scene access by forensic entomologists is often limited. This study estimated a rough mPMI using only insect specimens, case information, and nearby weather station temperature data available at the autopsy‐stage, with all insect specimens collected during autopsy and evaluated its practical applicability. Five indoor unattended death cases autopsied in July and October 2023 were examined. For each case, 30 specimens were selected and identified by morphological examination and COI‐based DNA barcoding. Rough mPMI was estimated using published developmental datasets based on the identified species, the most advanced developmental stage, and the mean temperature from the nearby weather station during the 7 days before body discovery. Accuracy was assessed by comparison with the last known record from investigative records. Two to four species were identified per case; Lucilia sericata occurred in all five cases and Phormia regina in four. The relative deviation between rough mPMI and the last known record ranged from 3.9% to 60.7% (13.8–130.2 h), with relatively smaller discrepancies in open or well‐ventilated cases. In four cases, P. regina served as a key species for mPMI estimation, highlighting the importance of interpreting primary colonizing species in relation to regional and case‐specific conditions. These findings suggest that rough mPMI may provide supplementary temporal information at the autopsy stage when scene access is limited.
ABSTRACT The giant mealworm, Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is a promising insect for food and feed production, but environmental and substrate requirements for adult oviposition remain insufficiently defined. To establish foundational data for mass rearing of Z. atratus , this study evaluated fecundity and adult survival across temperature, photoperiod, and relative humidity (RH) treatments and assessed oviposition‐site use. Newly emerged or 7‐day‐old adults were evaluated at four temperatures (25°C, 27°C, 30°C, and 33°C), under three photoperiods (9L:15D, 12L:12D, and 15L:9D), or at three RH levels (50%, 65%, and 80%); filter paper and wheat bran were compared as oviposition substrates. Fecundity, adult mortality, and substrate‐specific oviposition proportions were quantified over the observation periods. Temperature significantly affected fecundity: mean daily fecundity over 120 days was highest at 30°C (27.3 ± 27.1 eggs/female/day) and lowest at 33°C (5.2 ± 9.7; p < 0.0001), while cumulative fecundity reached 700.9 ± 441.4 and 91.7 ± 76.6 eggs/female, respectively. For the photoperiod treatments, cumulative fecundity at Day 100 was highest under 15L:9D (674.0 ± 173.4 eggs/female) and lowest under 12L:12D (226.7 ± 135.0). For RH, cumulative fecundity at Week 16 was highest at 65% RH (536.8 eggs/female) and final cumulative mortality was lowest (38.3%). Oviposition‐site use shifted: Eggs were deposited predominantly on filter paper early, whereas deposition in wheat bran increased later. Within the tested ranges, 30°C, 15L:9D, and 65% RH independently supported the greatest oviposition performance. These findings provide stage‐specific benchmarks for adult breeder management and oviposition‐system design in large‐scale Z. atratus rearing.
ABSTRACT Hanwoo manure has been a nutrient source for agriculture for centuries. In addition, coffee byproducts have been used as ingredients in animal feed. However, improper disposal and management of these materials have led to environmental issues such as air pollution and toxicity. We aimed to assess the effects of an optimal ratio of hanwoo manure to coffee marc‐only hanwoo manure and a 1:1 or 3:1 ratio of hanwoo manure to coffee marc on the decomposition capability of black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) larvae, as well as NH 3 and total nitrogen levels. Regarding the biodegradation capability of black soldier fly larvae, there were remarkable effects when using a mixture of hanwoo manure and coffee marc in a 3:1 ratio compared with the other groups. During the composting process, a mixture of hanwoo manure and coffee marc by black soldier fly larvae resulted in a reduction in NH 3 by 90.9%–92.7% in a 3:1 ratio and by 93.8%–97.8% in a 1:1 ratio. Simultaneously, there was an increase in total nitrogen content at a 3:1 ratio of hanwoo manure to coffee marc by black soldier fly larvae. These two changes are related to a decrease in pH levels. In conclusion, these findings indicate that using black soldier fly larvae at a 3:1 ratio of hanwoo manure to coffee marc is effective in improving biodegradation capability and having the potential to increase total nitrogen levels by lowering NH 3 , thereby offering an ideal alternative with a reduced environmental impact.
ABSTRACT DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic modification that governs genome stability, transcriptional regulation, and development across diverse eukaryotes. While DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) are well‐characterized in vertebrates, coleopteran insects exhibit a unique evolutionary architecture characterized by the exclusive retention of Dnmt1, prompting the need to investigate its potential role in epigenetic regulation. In this study, we identified and comprehensively characterized the maintenance DNA methyltransferase gene from Tenebrio molitor , designated as TmDnmt1 . In silico domain and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that Tm Dnmt1 retains the evolutionarily conserved architectural domains characteristic of canonical Dnmt1 proteins and clusters closely with coleopteran orthologs. Developmental expression profiling revealed a pronounced upregulation during the late larval and early pupal stages, alongside robust embryonic expression, pointing to its potential role during metamorphosis and tissue remodeling. Tissue‐specific analysis demonstrated widespread transcription with particularly high expression in immune‐active and barrier tissues, such as hemocytes and the gut. Furthermore, time‐course expression analysis following systemic challenge with Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Candida albicans showed rapid, pathogen‐ and tissue‐dependent transcriptional induction, especially a rapid upregulation in hemocytes at 3 h post‐injection. These findings raise the possibility that Tm Dnmt1 acts as a rapid epigenetic regulator involved in coordinating immediate innate immune responses. Taken together, this study establishes a foundational baseline for understanding the intersection of epigenetics, development, and innate immunity in coleopteran insects.
ABSTRACT Cordyceps militaris was cultivated on a cricket‐based host substrate using whole adults of Gryllus bimaculatus (WGB), which was compared with a brown rice control (CTR) and a brown rice medium supplemented with G. bimaculatus powder (GBP), where f and m denote fruiting bodies and mycelia, respectively. On a dry‐matter basis, WGB‐m increased crude protein from 5.8% ± 0.4% (CTR‐m) to 68.0% ± 1.2% (WGB‐m), an 11.7‐fold increase, and raised crude lipid from 2.3% ± 0.2% to 5.2% ± 0.3%. In the fruiting bodies, the crude protein content of WGB‐f was 1.5‐fold higher than that of CTR‐f. Amino acid levels increased markedly in the WGB‐m group, including tyrosine (30.6‐fold), proline (18.5‐fold), lysine (14.6‐fold), and branched‐chain amino acids (isoleucine, 8.3‐fold; leucine, 6.5‐fold). Mineral content was higher in WGB‐m than in CTR‐m, with increased levels of calcium, zinc, and iron, while heavy metal concentrations remained below the guideline limits across treatments. Cordycepin content also increased substantially in the whole‐insect substrate, reaching 4624.33 mg/kg in WGB‐f (3.2‐fold relative to CTR‐f) and 2529.64 mg/kg in WGB‐m (4.6‐fold relative to CTR‐m), whereas GBP showed no improvement and was slightly lower than the corresponding CTR. Collectively, these results indicate that cultivation on whole G. bimaculatus adults was associated with higher levels of selected nutritional components and cordycepin in C. militaris while ensuring heavy metal safety.
