Taofic Alabi

A comparative study of cannibalism and predation in seven species of flour beetle

Abstract 1. The present study quantified egg and pupal cannibalism, and interspecific predation on eggs and pupae, by larvae and adults of seven species of flour beetle (Tribolium spp.) under laboratory conditions: T. anaphe, T. brevicornis, T. castaneum, T. confusum, T. destructor, T. freemani, and T. madens.

Microbiological load of edible insects found in Belgium

Edible insects are gaining more and more attention as a sustainable source of animal protein for food and feed in the future. In Belgium, some insect products can be found on the market, and consumers are sourcing fresh insects from fishing stores or towards traditional markets to find exotic insects that are illegal and not sanitarily controlled. From this perspective, this study aims to characterize the microbial load of edible insects found in Belgium (i.e., fresh mealworms and house crickets from European farms and smoked termites and caterpillars from a traditional Congolese market) and to evaluate the efficiency of different processing methods (blanching for all species and freeze-drying and sterilization for European species) in reducing microorganism counts. All untreated insect samples had a total aerobic count higher than the limit for fresh minced meat (6.7 log cfu/g). Nevertheless, a species-dependent blanching step has led to a reduction of the total aerobic count under this limit, except for one caterpillar species. Freeze-drying and sterilization treatments on European species were also effective in reducing the total aerobic count. Yeast and mold counts for untreated insects were above the Good Manufacturing Practice limits for raw meat, but all treatments attained a reduction of these microorganisms under this limit. These results confirmed that fresh insects, but also smoked insects from non-European trades, need a cooking step (at least composed of a first blanching step) before consumption. Therefore, blanching timing for each studied insect species is proposed and discussed.

Optimisation of a cheap and residential small-scale production of edible crickets with local by-products as an alternative protein-rich human food source in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia

BACKGROUND The health status of the indigenous people of Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia, is significantly lower compared with that of the rest of the nation. The domestication and mass production of insects may represent a sustainable, cost effective and high quality alternative source of protein to traditional livestock. This study aimed to optimise a cheap and residential cricket breeding system based on unused wild resources. The development of crickets, Teleogryllus testaceus (Walker), under seven diets composed of taro aerial parts, young cassava leaves, young cashew leaves and brown rice flour (with or without banana slices), versus a traditionally used broiler feed diet was studied. RESULTS Cricket mortality was low in all diets, except the two cashew-based diets. Total biomass was significantly higher under the broiler feed, in addition to the two diets containing a combination of cassava leaf powder and brown rice. Yet, crickets fed with the taro diet had the highest percentage of protein. Concerning the breeding system cost, units using cassava leaves were the cheapest. CONCLUSION Diets based on cassava leaves seem to be the most promising. Nevertheless, to produce crickets with a high body mass and a high protein level, a new experiments must be devised in which cassava leaf maturity will be adapted to fit with the cricket growth stage. Moreover, to reduce the cost of the breeding units, handmade local products should be used instead of purchased components.

Risques et valorisation des insectes dans l’alimentation humaine et animale

Summary: Risks and valorization of insects in a food and feed context In a context of dwindling lands and resources, associated with a strong dependence on protein for feed and food, new methods of production and/or new food must be developed without affecting the quality of food, natural habitat and biodiversity of animal and vegetable species. As such, insects appear more and more as a solution of the future. To date, the consumption of insects is indicated by the term “entomophagy”, from the Ancient Greek “entomos” meaning insect and “phagos” meaning food. In such a context, a global evaluation of entomophagy seems essential before allowing the introduction of this practice in animal and human feed. Firstly, through this review, elements concerning the potentialities of insect valorization and their nutritional qualities will be brought. Secondly, the environmental impact of such a practice as well as the biological, chemical, physical or sanitary risks and even the potential presence of allergens and antinutritional factors will be approached. Thirdly, a review of the current European regulations will be proposed. Finally, reflections will be brought on the economic perspectives of entomophagy.

Effect of household cooking techniques on the microbiological load and the nutritional quality of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L. 1758)

Mealworms are new food products in Europe, but consumers do not know how to cook them. Although cooking could increase the safety, acceptability, palatability, and digestibility of insects, the heating process could have deleterious effects on protein and lipid quality. Therefore, this study characterized the effects of different household cooking methods (boiling, pan-frying, vacuum cooking, and oven cooking) on the microbial load and nutritive value of mealworms, with a focus on protein digestibility and fatty acid composition. Boiling and cooking under vacuum were the most efficient techniques to reduce microbial load while maintaining the high levels of protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids of mealworms. Cooking method-related changes were very low on macronutrients content except for pan-fried mealworms which exhibited the highest lipid content. Cooking slightly changed fatty acid composition of mealworms by principally decreasing their level of saturated fatty acids but also increased the in vitro crude protein digestibility of mealworms.

La biodiversité entomologique comme source d’aliments à Kinshasa (République démocratique du Congo)

L’exploitation des produits forestiers non ligneux dont notamment les insectes comestibles jouent un rôle important dans les habitudes alimentaires et économies locales des populations autochtones du bassin du Congo. Bien que la consommation d’insectes en République Démocratique du Congo soit une pratique ancienne, l’inventaire et l’identification taxonomique des espèces consommées ainsi que la caractérisation de la filière « entomophagie » sont encore mal maitrisés. Toutefois, nos études axées sur la ville de Kinshasa ont permis d’inventorier 14 espèces comestibles régulièrement consommées. Elles appartiennent à l’ordre des Lépidoptères (46,7%), des Isoptères (18,6%), des Orthoptères (17,6%), des Coléoptères (9,7%) et des Hyménoptères (3,7%). De façon générale, 80% de la population de Kinshasa consomment au minimum une espèce d’insecte 5 jours par mois avec des quantités variant de 66,4 à 154 g d’insectes par personne par jour en fonction des différents ordres. Les acteurs de la filière sont majoritairement des femmes. Les revenus générés par l’activité concourent au bien-être des ménages, à la réduction de la pauvreté et de l’insécurité alimentaire dans de la capitale Kinshasa.

Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Meliponini) from Gabon

We present an overview of the diversity, distribution, nesting behaviour, traditional knowledge and use of stingless bees in Gabon, Central Africa. A total of 16 species were recorded and grouped into 5 genera: Cleptotrigona, Dactylurina, Meliponula, Hypotrigona and Liotrigona. The species identification of Hypotrigona and Liotrigona based on morphological characteristics remains difficult. The distribution of stingless bees is poorly documented in Gabon. However, several species have been reported to have wide distributions. Stingless bees build exposed nests or nests in tree cavities, in the ground or in termite mounds and anthills. The inhabitants of Gabon hunt honey to support traditional medicine. Future research should focus on investigating how human activities impact the diversity of stingless bees in Gabon, along with assessing the threats and constraints of implementing a breeding programme for stingless bees.

Protein value of two insects, subjected to various heat treatments, using growing rats and the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score

To address the future challenge of food availability (9 billion people on earth by 2050), non-common sources of proteins need to be investigated. Insects are consumed mainly in Africa, Asia and South America, but entomophagy is now being increasingly promoted in Europe and North America. In addition to consumption in raw form, insects are often cooked, which represents an important guarantee for sanitation purposes. Little information is available on the influence of such treatment and its effect on the nutritional value of the resulting insect food. The aim of this study was to determine, depending on the heat treatment, the quality of the proteins of two edible insects, using the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) and a rat bioassay. The insects were adult house crickets (Acheta domesticus) and the larvae of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor). Both insects, not heated or heat-treated by oven-cooking at 150 °C for 30 min or at 200 °C for 10 min and by autoclaving at 120 °C for 25 min, we...

Entomofaune associée à la culture de cucurbites oléagineuses africaines (Lagenaria siceraria Molina (Standl. 1930) et Citrullus lanatus Thumb (Matsum & Nakai 1916)) et impact des ravageurs sur la production

Résumé Les observations faites sur deux cucurbitacées africaines, Lagenaria siceraria Molina (Standl.) et Citrullus lanatus Thumb (Matsum & Nakai) ont permis d’inventorier l’entomofaune (utiles et ravageurs) associée à la pratique culturale. L’évaluation des dégâts occasionnés par les ravageurs a mis en évidence leur impact sur la production. Suivant un schéma expérimental, des parcelles de 49 m2 traitées au CYPERCAL 50 EC (50 g/l de Cypermétrine) et au FURADAN 5G (50 g/kg de Carbofuran) et non traitées ont été disposées en blocs aléatoires. Les observations ont porté sur l’identification et le dénombrement des insectes, sur le pourcentage de plants attaqués ainsi que sur la production de baies mûres et de graines. Au total, 71 espèces ont été identifiées, réparties en 41 familles et 10 ordres (Coléoptères, Hyménoptères, Diptères, Lépidoptères, Orthoptères, Homoptères, Hétéroptères, Dictyoptères, Odonates et Dermaptères). Les principaux ravageurs appartiennent à la famille des Chrysomelidae (Lamprocopa occidentalis, Aulacophora foveicolis, Aulacophora africana, Asbecesta cyanipennis, Ootheca mutabilis et Lilioceris livida), des Coccinellidae (Henosepilachna elaterii et Henosepilachna reticulata) et des Meloidae (Mylabris holosericea). Plus de 50 % de plants sains ont été recensés dans les parcelles traitées contre 0 à 33 % dans les parcelles témoins. Les nombres moyens des baies obtenues dans les parcelles traitées (37,16 ± 2,99 pour L. siceraria et 42,33 ± 2,58 pour C. lanatus) sont significativement (P < 0,001) plus importants que ceux observés dans les parcelles témoins (29,33 ± 4,67 pour L. siceraria et 31,33 ± 3,5 pour C. lanatus). Les rendements moyens en graines dans les parcelles traitées (222,39 ± 15,78 kg/ha pour L. siceraria et 127,4 ± 8,16 kg/ha pour C. lanatus) sont significativement (P < 0,001) supérieurs à ceux observés dans les parcelles témoins (144,4 ± 14,52 kg/ha pour L. siceraria et 88,18 ± 8,09 kg/ha pour C. lanatus). Les traitements insecticides, en réduisant les populations de ravageurs et les dégâts sur les plants, ont entrainé une augmentation du rendement à l’hectare de plus de 40 %.