A thorn in the side of cricket farming - do dermestid hastisetae affect cricket fitness traits?

Mass rearing of insects for feed and food is a developing industry, and a new challenge facing the industry is unanticipated pests. Extremely low harvest yields are reported by cricket farms during heavy Dermestes ater (Dermestidae) infestations, but the exact reasons for low yield are unknown. Dermestid larvae are covered in dense, detachable, barbed hastisetae, which can obstruct the digestive tracts of invertebrate predators. We tested the survival, growth, and calling behaviour of Gryllodes sigillatus (Gryllidae) reared on three diets differing in hastisetae concentration: 0, 1, and 2 dermestids/g of feed. 40 three-week-old juvenile crickets were individually reared on each diet until adulthood. Survival was monitored thrice weekly, and mass and body size were measured at adult eclosion. Adult males were placed into electronic acoustic recording systems for 14 days to measure how dermestid infestations impact calling behaviour. Characterizing the host-pest interactions between D. ater and G. sigillatus is a crucial first step towards an integrated pest management plan for dermestid infestations in cricket farms.