Battle of the Beetle Strains: Exploring the genetics of yellow mealworm fungal resistance for healthier insect farming

The market for insects in the food and feed industry has been growing continuously for years. Mealworms, the larvae of the flour beetle (Tenebrio molitor), have been permitted to be used as processed animal protein in the European Union since 2021, both as feed for farm animals (excluding ruminants) and as food. They are now among the most economically important farm insects. For this reason, industrialization and automation in insect production are experiencing steadily increasing interest. In contrast to established livestock species, however, little is known about the course of infections in insects under production conditions. However, numerous pathogens exist that can be harmful to insects or their consumers under intense production pressure. The aim of the research is to understand which factors and interactions are crucial for the transmission of animal diseases and zoonotic pathogens, as well as for the spread of entomopathogenic pathogens. The focus of the investigations is particularly on the interactions between biological contaminants, husbandry conditions, and the insects. These complex interactions are analyzed using mealworm strains from different sources.

Begin: 06/ 2024 | End: 05/ 2027

Funder: Georg-August-Universität; Departement für Nutztierwissenschaften