A study on the welfare and crop-residue ameliorating potential of Acheta domesticus in the context of insect sequestration, metabolism, and excretion of three mycotoxins: aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone

Author

• Ryan Thomas PaulkFollow

ORCID

0009-0001-6062-8719

Advisor

Jordan, Heather

Committee Member

Abbas, Hamed

Committee Member

Ballinger, Matt

Committee Member

Shier, W

Date of Degree

8-12-2026

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Biological Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Abstract

Mycotoxins are a food security issue that affects all crops globally, but to varying degrees, due to the ubiquity of fungi that produce them. Developing new agricultural practices that can ameliorate lost nutrients post-contamination by removing mycotoxins for the next levels in the food chain can remedy an inevitable effluent in the circular economy. Farmed insects, such as the house cricket, Acheta domesticus, can potentially consume moldy, mycotoxin contaminated grains safely without transferring them to other trophic levels. The experiments herein test the biology of A. domesticus to consume three individual mycotoxins: aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone. In addition to life history traits, the excretion, metabolism, and sequestration of each mycotoxin will be evaluated in ground cricket meal and frass by multiple spectroscopic and spectrometric methods.

Recommended Citation

Paulk, Ryan Thomas, "A study on the welfare and crop-residue ameliorating potential of Acheta domesticus in the context of insect sequestration, metabolism, and excretion of three mycotoxins: aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 7116.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/7116