Table 1.
Nutritional composition of edible insects, based on dry matter, from six orders consumed by people in Africa.
| Scientific Name | Stage of Consumption | Protein (%) | Crude Fibre (%) | Moisture (%) | Ash (%) | Carb (%) | Vitamin A (mg/100 g) | Vitamin B2 (mg/100 g) | Vitamin C (mg/100 g) | Fe (mg/100 g) | Ca (mg/100 g) | Zn (mg/100 g) | P (mg/100 g) | Mg (mg/100 g) | Fats (mg/100 g) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blattodea (termites and cockroaches) | 33.2 ± 14.5 | 4.7 ± 3.9 | 2.9 ± 0.1 | 5.2 ± 2.5 | 23.2 ± 0 | 2.7 ± 0.2 | 1.8 ± 0.2 | 3.2 ± 0.2 | 86 ± 96.8 | 54.1 ± 42.6 | 13.8 ± 3.5 | 125 ± 11 | 0.2 ± 0.1 | 22.2 ± 9.8 | ||
| Periplaneta Americana | Adult | 39.6 | 13.1 | 6.2 | [35] | |||||||||||
| Macrotermes nigeriensis | Adult | 35.9 | 5.5 | 5.8 | [35] | |||||||||||
| Macrotermes bellicosus | Adult | 20.4 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 11.3 | 23.2 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 27.0 | 21.0 | 136.0 | 0.2 | 36.1 | [36] | |
| Macrotermes natalensis | Adult | 22.1 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 29.0 | 18.0 | 114.0 | 0.3 | 21.4 | [36] | ||
| Pseudacathotermes spinige | Adult | 6.8 | 332.0 | 84.7 | 11.9 | [37] | ||||||||||
| Macrotermes spp. | Adult | 2.4 | 93.9 | 83.7 | 8.1 | [37] | ||||||||||
| Macrotermes herus | Adult | 6.8 | 161.0 | 132.0 | 14.3 | [37] | ||||||||||
| Macrotermes bellicosus | Adult | 40.7 | 5.7 | 42.7 | 16.9 | 8.4 | [38] | |||||||||
| Macrotermes bellicosus | Adult | 20.4 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 27.0 | 21.0 | 136.0 | 0.2 | [36] | |||
| Syntermes soldiers | Adult | 64.7 | 4.2 | 32.5 | 17.6 | 23.0 | [38] | |||||||||
| Macrotermes natalensis | Adult | 22.1 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 29.0 | 18.0 | 114.0 | 0.3 | [36] | |||
| Coleoptera (beetles) | 32.8 ± 11.5 | 6.2 ± 7.8 | 7.6 ± 15.7 | 4.7 ± 2.7 | 22.6 ± 13.2 | 11.2 ± 1.4 | 1.9 ± 0.9 | 5.4 ± 1.2 | 14.1 ± 8.9 | 43.6 ± 14.3 | 14.4 ± 12.1 | 109.6 ± 48.5 | 10.1 ± 4.2 | 29.1 ± 16.6 | ||
| Analeptes trifasciata | Larvae | 20.1 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 5.1 | 12.5 | 2.6 | 5.4 | 18.2 | 61.2 | 136.4 | 18.2 | [36] | |||
| Oryctes boas | Larvae | 26.0 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 2.3 | [6,36] | |||||||||
| Oryctes monoceros | Larvae | 26.4 | 4.7 | 7.8 | 51.6 | [39] | ||||||||||
| Aphodius rufipes | Larvae | 22.4 | 28.1 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 13.1 | 30.9 | 42.2 | 11.7 | 30.5 | [36] | |||||
| Rhynchophorus phoenicis | Larvae | 28.4 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 11.3 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 12.2 | 39.6 | 26.5 | 126.4 | 7.5 | 66.6 | [6] | |
| Oryctes rhinoceros | Larvae | 50.5 | 4.5 | 38.1 | [6] | |||||||||||
| Oryctes owariensis | Larvae | 50.6 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 14.3 | 18.9 | [40] | |||||||||
| Eulopida mashona | Larvae | 46.3 | 14.8 | 10.9 | 16.2 | 11.8 | [41] | |||||||||
| Heteroligus meles | Larvae | 38.1 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 5.8 | 20.1 | 32.0 | [42] | ||||||||
| Rhynchophorus phoenicis | Larvae | 50.0 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 4.9 | 20.2 | 21.1 | [42] | ||||||||
| Rhynchophorus phoenicis | Larvae | 28.4 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 11.3 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 12.2 | 39.6 | 126.4 | 7.5 | [36] | |||
| Analeptes trifasciata | Larvae | 29.6 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 4.2 | 12.5 | 2.6 | 5.4 | 18.2 | 61.3 | 136.4 | 6.1 | [36] | |||
| Oryctes boas | Larvae | 26.0 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 8.6 | 0.1 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 45.7 | 130.2 | 6.3 | [36] | |||
| Apomecyna parumpunctata | Larvae | 16.8 | 5.4 | 59.4 | 3.0 | 15.7 | 1.5 | 13.5 | 13.9 | [43] | ||||||
| Hemiptera (bugs) | 39.3 ± 4.0 | 5.3 ± 0 | 4.9 ± 0 | 1.7 ± 0 | 6.3 ± 1.3 | 0.2 ± 0 | 0.9 ± 0 | 20.2 ± 0 | 91.0 ± 0 | 46.0 ± 0 | 57 ± 0 | 109 ± 0 | ||||
| Encosternum delegorguei | 43.3 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 1.7 | 5.0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 20.2 | 91.0 | 575.0 | 109.0 | 45.0 | [6] | |||
| Encosternum delegorguei | 35.2 | 4.9 | 1.7 | 7.6 | 20.2 | 91.0 | 46.0 | 109.0 | [28] | |||||||
| Hymenoptera (bees and ants) | 33.9 ± 9.2 | 7.7 ± 4.6 | 3.9 ± 0.1 | 4.1 ± 3.2 | 12.4 ± 0 | 3.2 ± 0 | 10.3 ± 0 | 17.8 ± 6.6 | 21.6 ± 6.3 | 7.5 ± 2.5 | 115.6 ± 9.6 | 7.8 ± 2.6 | 42.9 ± 4.7 | |||
| Apis mellifera | Adult | 21.0 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 12.4 | 3.2 | 10.3 | 25.2 | 15.4 | 125.5 | 5.2 | [6,36] | |||
| Carebara vidua | Adult | 42.5 | 9.1 | 8,6 | 10.4 | 22.3 | 5.7 | 106.0 | 10.4 | 38.2 | [6] | |||||
| Componotus spp. | Adult | 40.1 | 14.1 | 9.6 | [35] | |||||||||||
| Oecophylla longinoda | Adult | 37.8 | 12.3 | 7.3 | [35] | |||||||||||
| Crematogaster mimosa | Adult | 1.7 | 17.7 | 32.6 | 11.1 | [37] | ||||||||||
| Carebara vidua Smith | Adult | 40.8 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 10.7 | 22.2 | 5.7 | 106.0 | 10.4 | 47.5 | [44] | ||||
| Apis mellifera | Adult | 21.0 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 12.4 | 3.2 | 10.3 | 25.2 | 15.4 | 125.0 | 5.2 | [36] | |||
| Lepidoptera (caterpillars) | 46.3 ± 21.7 | 5.9 ± 5.4 | 29.3 ± 36.5 | 4.6 ± 2.2 | 18.0 ± 13.0 | 3.1 ± 0.2 | 1.7 ± 0.6 | 2.8 ± 1.0 | 15.4 ± 22.2 | 9.4 ± 2.3 | 10.6 ± 2.2 | 320.7 ± 367.9 | 18.9 ± 45.5 | 18.3 ± 14.8 | ||
| Anaphe venata | Larvae | 60.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 8.6 | 100.5 | 1.6 | [6] | ||||
| Anaphe infracta | Larvae | 20.0 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 8.6 | 113.3 | 1.0 | [6,36] | ||||
| Anaphe recticulata | Larvae | 23.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 10.5 | 102.4 | 2.6 | [6,36] | ||||
| Cirina forda | Larvae | 20.2 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 64.0 | 15.4 | 8.6 | 110.0 | 1.9 | [6,36] | |||
| Imbrasia epimethea | Larvae | 73.1 | 79.8 | 13.0 | 11.1 | 402.0 | 12.4 | [36] | ||||||||
| Imbrasia obscura | Larvae | 62.3 | 83.0 | 12.2 | [45] | |||||||||||
| Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) alopia | Larvae | 62.3 | 85.7 | 1.9 | [45] | |||||||||||
| Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) dione | Larvae | [45] | ||||||||||||||
| Pseudantheraea discrepans | Larvae | 48.9 | 72.2 | 21.3 | [45] | |||||||||||
| Anaphe panda | Larvae | 53.2 | 83.4 | 55.0 | [6,33] | |||||||||||
| Cirina butyrospermi | Larvae | 62.7 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 13.0 | [46] | ||||||||||
| Imbrasia belina | Larvae | 55.3 | 16.0 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 31.0 | 14.0 | 543.0 | 160.0 | [6,47] | ||||||
| Gynanisa maia | Larvae | 51.1 | 16.2 | 7.7 | 14.1 | 16.4 | [47] | |||||||||
| Loba leopardina | Larvae | 25.8 | 14.7 | 6.6 | 40.2 | 12.6 | [47] | |||||||||
| Imbrasia macrothyris | Larvae | 75.4 | [33] | |||||||||||||
| Nudaurelia macrothyrus | Larvae | 75.4 | [33] | |||||||||||||
| Gonimbrasia richelmanni | Larvae | 79.6 | [33] | |||||||||||||
| Cirina spp. | Larvae | 64.0 | 7.0 | 8.6 | 1090.0 | 32.4 | [48] | |||||||||
| Cirina butyrospermi | Larvae | 62.7 | 5.0 | 1160.0 | 14.3 | [46] | ||||||||||
| Hemijana variegata Rothschild, | Larvae | 8.3 | 5.9 | 5.2 | 9.5 | [49] | ||||||||||
| Anaphe infracta | Larvae | 20.0 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 8.6 | 111.3 | 1.0 | [36] | |||
| Anaphe recticulata | Larvae | 23.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 10.5 | 102.3 | 2.6 | [36] | |||
| Anaphe spp. | Larvae | 18.9 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 0.1 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 7.6 | 122.2 | 1.0 | [36] | |||
| Anaphe venata | Larvae | 25.7 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 8.6 | 100.5 | 1.6 | [36] | |||
| Orthoptera (grasshoppers, locust and crickets) | 39.8 ± 21.1 | 6.4 ± 4.8 | 3.5 ± 1.7 | 5.5 ± 4.0 | 26.8 ± 14.5 | 3.0 ± 3.5 | 0.2 ± 0.4 | 2.9 ± 4.0 | 120.1 ± 298.8 | 17.3 ± 15.8 | 91.1 ± 99.8 | 119.7 ± 12.7 | 2.8 ± 3.8 | 20.8 ± 18.9 | ||
| Brachytrupes membranaceus | Adult | 53.4 | 15.0 | 3.4 | 6.0 | 15.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 9.2 | 126.9 | 0.1 | 53.0 | [6,47] | |
| Cytacanthacris naeruginosus unicolor | Adult | 12.1 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 4.4 | 100.2 | 0.1 | [6,36] | ||||
| Zonocerus variegatus | Adult | 26.8 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 6.8 | 0.1 | 8.6 | 910.0 | 42.2 | 131.2 | 8.2 | [6,36] | ||||
| Gryllotalpa africana | Adult | 22.0 | 7.5 | 12.6 | 47.2 | 10.8 | [47] | |||||||||
| Henicus whellani | Adult | 53.6 | 10.6 | 14.0 | 4.3 | [50] | ||||||||||
| Cartarrtopsilus taeniolatus | Adult | 40.6 | 13.3 | 6.9 | [35] | |||||||||||
| Zulua cyanoptera | Adult | 33.7 | 13.3 | 6.6 | [51] | |||||||||||
| Ornithacris turbida | Adult | 42.7 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 18.2 | 2.0 | [47] | |||||||||
| Ruspolia differens | Adult | 72.7 | 6.3 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 13.0 | 24.5 | 12.4 | 121.0 | 33,1 | 46.2 | [6] | |||
| Anacridium melanorhodon melanorhodon (Walker) | Adult | 66.2 | 8.4 | 7.5 | 12.4 | [52] | ||||||||||
| Zonocerous variegatus | Adult | 62.7 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 8.9 | 0.1 | 9.8 | 2.0 | 29.0 | [6] | ||||||
| Brachytrypes membranaceus L | Adult | [53] | ||||||||||||||
| Zonocerous variegatus | Adult | 26.8 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 42.2 | 131.2 | 8.2 | [36] | ||||||
| Brachytrupes spp. | Adult | 65.4 | 4.9 | 33.6 | 232.0 | 16.9 | [38] | |||||||||
| Brachytrupes spp. | Adult | 6.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 9.2 | 126.9 | 0.1 | [36] | |||
| Cytacanthacris aeruginosus unicolor | Adult | 12.1 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 4.4 | 100.2 | 0.1 | [36] | |||
| * Recommended daily intakes (mg/day) for adults | 45.0 | 7.5–58.8 | 1300.0 | 3.0–14.0 | 700.0 | 220–260 | [37] |
Note the mineral abbreviations are Fe: Iron; Zn: Zinc; Ca: Calcium; P: Phosphorus; Mg: Magnesium. * Source [37]. Mean ± standard deviation of insects belonging to the same insect order are highlighted in bold and species names are in italics.