Growth Performance and Nutrient Composition of Mealworms (Tenebrio Molitor) Fed on Fresh Plant Materials-Supplemented Diets.

Changqi Liu,Jasmin Masri,Jing Zhao,Cassandra Maya,Violet Perez

doi:10.3390/foods9020151

Changqi Liu, Jasmin Masri + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9020151

Copy DOI

Abstract

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) have a great potential to serve as a sustainable food source for humans due to their favorable nutrient profile and low environmental impact. Feed formulation and optimization are important for mealworm production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of fresh plant materials-supplemented diets on the growth performance and nutritional value of mealworms. Mealworm larvae were grown on wheat bran or wheat bran enriched with carrot, orange, or red cabbage for four weeks. Larval and pupal survival, growth rate, pupating rate, duration of pupal stage, proximate composition, reducing power, metal chelating activity, and radical scavenging activity of the mealworms were analyzed. Dietary supplementation with fresh plant materials did not result in significant changes in mealworm survival, development, proximate composition, or antioxidant activities. However, mealworm larvae fed on carrot-, orange-, and red cabbage-supplemented diets had improved growth rates, and were 40%–46% heavier in week four than those fed on wheat bran only, indicating the supplementation resulted in an increased production efficiency of mealworm larvae. Our findings may help optimize the diet formulation for mealworm mass production.

Highlights

Entomophagy, the human consumption of insects, is practiced in many regions including parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America [1,2]
The objective of this study was to investigate whether dietary supplementation of carrot, orange, and red cabbage as a source of antioxidants can improve growth performance, nutrient composition, and antioxidant activity of mealworm larvae
Mealworm larvae were divided into four different dietary groups: (1) 50 g of wheat bran only, (2) 50 g of wheat bran supplemented with 20 g of fresh carrot per day, (3) 50 g of wheat bran supplemented with 20 g of fresh orange per day, and (4) 50 g of wheat bran supplemented with 20 g of fresh red cabbage per day

Summary

Introduction

Entomophagy, the human consumption of insects, is practiced in many regions including parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America [1,2]. Western acceptance of entomophagy remains low [3], the utilization of edible insects as human food has received increasing attention in recent years, after the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recommended using insects as a sustainable alternative to the traditional livestock [4]. Over 1500 edible insect species are consumed [7], many of which have the potential of becoming part of the Western diet. Palm weevils (Rhynchophorus spp.) are insects widely consumed in Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea [7], but are devastating pests of palm trees in California [8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion