The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said it is closely monitoring the infestation of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) across sugar farms in Negros Occidental, warning that it can reduce sugar content by nearly 50 percent. In a statement, the SRA said it has swiftly established a special...
To those who still cannot get over their past relationships this Valentine's, some zoos in the United States are offering a special service where people can name a cockroach after their ex, and let it be eaten by another animal. Photo: Mart Production/Pexels Naming a cockroach, vegetable, or...
More than 1,900 insect species around the world are considered edible and consumed in countries in Central America, Asia, and Africa. Insects have long been grown for eating in Thailand and often served in street stalls. Throughout the years, edible insect consumption has gained popularity in...
By OLIVER SAMSON This single parent, entrepreneur, and diversified farmer specializing in stingless bees caught the eye of the organizers of the National Search for Outstanding Rural Women 2022 after winning the regional search in October. Leizel Grajo, 39, tends to pineapples, red Panama passion...
Photo by Pixabay. Cultivating insects is becoming a popular avenue for farmers worldwide. Livestock farmers, in particular, have been raising insects to feed their animals. It has become more acceptable due to the nutritional benefit and ease of reproducing insects. Perhaps the biggest incentive to...
By Julius Barcelona The common name “fruit fly” is very widely used for a number of different flies under the taxonomic order of flies: Diptera. In general, what is known as the “common fruit fly” are species under the family Drosophilidae: Drosophilidae melanogaster . The common...
Over the past few years, bee populations have been declining due to several reasons such as climate change and the increased use of chemical inputs in plants. Recently, scientists discovered another reason behind the dwindling bee population. Photo by Jenna Lee from Unsplash Monoculture...
When people hear the word ‘livestock,’ most immediately think of common farm animals like cows, pigs, and chickens. What not a lot of people know is that insects can be considered livestock as well, as long as they are farmed. Countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and South Korea count...
BY PATRICIA BIANCA S. TACULAO Bees have always been considered an important part of the ecosystem. Without them, plants will have trouble reproducing since these insects serve as natural pollinators. They also produce food for animals and humans from the nectar that they gather from...
Over the years, insect farming for human consumption has begun industrializing its operations to provide insect-based consumables to the public. While some still have reservations about eating insects because they don’t find them or the idea of eating them appealing, others find it exciting...
Fourteen live beetles and larvae hidden inside a package of snacks items have been intercepted by Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) operatives. (Photo from BOC-NAIA) The smuggled insects--concealed in plastic tubes--reporteldy did not have the requisite...
The syrphid fly, also called hoverfly, is being considered a tiny bee impostor, and it may also be a big help to some gardens and farms. New research from Washington State University found that out of more than 2,400 pollinator visits to flowers at urban and rural farms, 35 percent were made...
