4 SPECIAL FEATURES %EDIBLE INSECTS traditional medicine, anthropology, protein deficit. Gram for gram, insects agriculture and livestock raising. often contain more protein and minerals The contribution of edible forest insects Contributions from these allied disciplines than meat. In fact, nutritionists represent to human nutrition are exceptionally important to the leading group of researchers in food Wherever forest insects are part of the understanding the past and present roles, insects, motivated by a desire to remedy human diet, they have generally been as well as to the future potential of food the problems associated with protein- collected from the wild. In most cases, insects. deficient diets. (Source: D.V. Johnson. 2010. minimal management of forest vegetation The lack of any one institution in the The contribution of edible forest insects to has been practised in association with the world with a strong research focus on human nutrition and to forest exploitation of forest insects, and actual edible insects is an impediment to management. In Edible forest insects. domestication of insects thus far has been conducting research on the subject. Humans bite back! 2010. Rome, FAO.) limited to only a few species such as Relevant information is scattered far and silkworms and bees. The most commonly wide among a variety of books and articles FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: eaten insect forms are larvae and pupae, from different university departments and Mr Dennis V. Johnson, 3726 Middlebrook Ave, usually with little or no processing of the research facilities. Cincinnati OH 45208, United States of America. insects before they are consumed. Worldwide, nearly 1 700 insect species E-mail: [email protected] As an academic discipline, entomophagy are reported to be used as human food. (the human consumption of insects) is Four insect orders predominate, in rank Nigerian researchers explore nutritional necessarily interdisciplinary, with sequence: Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, value of local insects relationships to several different Orthoptera and Lepidoptera, accounting for Nigerian researchers have confirmed that recognized fields of scientific study. While 80 percent of the species eaten. insects are indeed a good source of protein entomology is the core related discipline, Edible forest insects represent rich and other nutrients. They have found that edible forest insects are also closely linked sources of protein for improvement of the edible insects constitute an important part to the fields of forestry, human nutrition human diet, especially for individuals of the daily diet of a large proportion of the (including famine food and ritual food), suffering from poor nutrition because of a population in southwestern Nigeria. According to a study published in the African Journal of Biotechnology, these Number of edible insect species reported in the world insects provide a high quality of proteins and Order Common English name Number of species supplements (minerals and vitamins) even when dried. A.D. Banjo, O.A. Lawal and E.A. Coleoptera Beetles 468 Songonuga of the Department of Biological Hymenoptera Ants, bees, wasps 351 Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Orthoptera Grasshoppers, cockroaches, crickets 267 Iwoye, Ogun State (Nigeria) have written that Lepidoptera Butterflies, moths (silkworms) 253 “the consumption of non-toxic insects, Hemiptera True bugs 102 therefore, should be encouraged. Insects Homoptera Cicadas, leafhoppers, mealybugs 78 are traditional foods in most cultures, playing an important role in human nutrition Isoptera Termites 61 and have many nutrients to offer. They can Diptera Flies, mosquitoes 34 be reared for their high nutritional qualities Odonata Dragonflies 29 and sold to the populace that regards them Ephemeroptera Mayflies 19 as delicacies. Some of the most sought- Trichoptera Caddis flies 10 after species, especially those with high Neuroptera Dobson flies 5 nutritional content, ought to be cultivated Anoplura Lice 3 with modern techniques to increase their Thysanura Silverfish 1 commercial values and availability.” The study is entitled: The nutritional Total 1 681 value of 14 species of edible insects in southwestern Nigeria. According to the Number of edible insects per continent and number of consumer countries study, commonly eaten insects in Nigeria are termites (winged adults, queen), Continent Number of Percentage of total Number of species recorded consuming countries Macrotermes bellicosus/Macrotermes notalensis, esusu in Yoruba and aku in Ibo; Asia 349 20 29 adult crickets (Brachytrypes spp.), ire in Australia 152 9 14 Yoruba; grasshoppers (Zonocerus Africa 524 30 36 variegates), tata in Yoruba and abuzu in Ibo; Americas 679 39 23 adult short-horned grasshoppers Europe 41 2 11 (Cytacanthacris naeruginosus unicolor), Total 1 745* 100 113 tata in Yoruba and ukpana in Ibo; rhinoceros beetle larvae (Analeptes * The world total is actually 1 681; some species occur in more than one continent, hence the higher total. trifasciata), ipe in Yoruba and ebe in Ibo; NON-WOOD NEWS No. 21 October 2010 SPECIAL FEATURES 5 scarab beetle larvae (Oryctes boas), vegetable matter as feed. Yet 1 kg of meat ogongo in Yoruba; snout beetle larvae from a cricket, locust or beetle needs just (Rhynchophorus phoenicis), munimuni in 1.5 to 2 kg of fodder and produces a Yoruba; eggs, larvae and pupae of honey fraction of the CO2 emissions. The maths bees (Apis mellifera), oyin in Yoruba and are quite simple. On average, in the West, anwu in Ibo; and larvae of caterpillars we eat 120 kg of meat per person. China is (Anaphe spp.), ekuku in Yoruba. currently at 80 kg per head and catching us The researchers analysed 17 species of up fast.” edible insects representing nine families “If five billion people eat 100 kg of beef Scientists “grow” edible insects from southwestern Nigeria for nutrient or pork, then we’ll need to grow an average in Costa Rica composition. They include the orders of of 6.5 trillion kg of fodder per year. There The day when restaurants will serve garlic Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, just isn’t enough space or nutrients in the grasshoppers or beetle larva skewers is Hymenoptera and Isoptera. Analeptes earth to support that and the poorest getting closer in Costa Rica, where scientists trifasciata, Rhynchophorus phoenicis and people will simply starve to death,” he said. are “growing” insects for human Zonocerus variegates have the highest “The good news is that, not only do consumption. Entomologist Manuel crude protein content (29.62, 28.42 and 26.8 insects require less food to farm, you also Zumbado’s research into this alternative food percent, respectively). don’t have to eat as much to survive, as source is inspired by practices in Africa, where Hundreds of insect species have been they are an extremely good source of insects have long been part of people’s diet. used as human food; some of the more protein and vitamins,” added van Huis. With its rain forests playing host to important groups include grasshoppers, Thailand has 15 000 household cricket countless insect species, including thousands caterpillars, beetle grubs and sometimes farms bred for human consumption. In that have yet to be identified, Costa Rica is a adults, winged termites (some of which are southern Africa, the Mopane worm perfect breeding ground for the work. From very large in the tropics), bees, wasps and industry is worth USD85 million and is an leaf-cutting ants to rhinoceros beetles and a ant broods (larvae and pupae), as well as important source of protein for the dizzying flurry of butterflies, the Central winged ants, cicadas and a variety of indigenous population. The insects are American nation is also a haven of aquatic insects. Insects are not normally harvested from the Mopane trees that they ecotourism. But is it the next hotbed of used as emergency food during shortages, use as their habitat. mouth-watering bugs? The food but are included as a planned part of the In the Netherlands, insect-rearing diversification programme at the National diet throughout the year, or when companies are already in business; Biodiversity Institute in Santo Domingo de seasonally available. typically, they tend to breed large beetles, Heredia, a small city close to the capital San The researchers concluded that “this crickets and locusts. Locusts have to be José, looks into indigenous insect species. study revealed that some of the insects farmed at 30 degrees, so this may be the But it also examines mushrooms, inspired by which are pests also have high nutritional main reason why insects are not eaten in their importance in diets in the Himalayan qualities”. (Source: www.ngrguardiannews. the Western world to the same extent. kingdom of Bhutan. At the institute, Costa com [Nigeria], 14 April 2010.) However, Professor van Huis said that the Rican scientists mingle with Bhutan mycology most common misconception is that insects expert Ugyen Yangchen and Elisabeth are not tasty. “Because of the mild climate, Zannou, an entomologist from Benin. we’re just not culturally used to eating insects “Benin knows a lot about insect but, if they’re cooked correctly, they can be consumption and Bhutan about eating delicious. Really, there’s no credible reason mushrooms, while Costa Rica is bringing against eating them, taste-wise and its experience in managing biodiversity,” nutritionally, there’s no difference between Marianella Feoli, who manages the Insects proving food for thought insect meat and that from birds, fish or foundation coordinating the research An insect summit is aiming to revolutionize mammals,” he said. “But in an attempt to programme, told AFP. the way we think about bugs as a combat the developed world’s In Benin, termites, grasshoppers and sustainable source of food. It is estimated squeamishness, we’re looking at ways of crickets, as well as butterfly and moth that 80 percent of the world’s population grinding the meat into some sort of patty, larvae, are a common part of people’s diet, include some sort of insect in their diets.
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