Abstract
Cirina butyrospermi is the main lepidoptera whose larvae constitute one of the main sources of edible insect protein in human food and are consumed by many ethnic groups in Burkina Faso and elsewhere in Africa. The preservation and mass production of this useful insect call for increased knowledge of its biological parameters. This study was carried out at the Farako-Ba experimental, environmental and agricultural research station of the Burkina Faso Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research. The approach has been to feed the larvae individually in the petri dishes wish the leaves of shea and then to measure the different biological parameters. Laboratory results—under temperature conditions varying between 24.5°C - 31°C and relative humidity varying between 58.40% - 84.80% with a 12:12 photoperiod—show that the incubation time of eggs is 30 days on average. The development cycle, which includes five larval stages, all feeding on shea leaves, lasts 33.3 ± 3.5 days. Adults (imago) live on average 2.28 ± 0.63 days for males and 2.47 ± 0.56 days for females. Finally, the average number of eggs laid per female is 283.19 ± 96, with an average fertility rate of 84.26% ± 2.16%. Thus, some biological parameters of this insect in our study conditions are now known. These results could contribute to knowledge of the bio-ecology of this insect, improving prospects for diversification and increased nutritional quality for humans.
Highlights
The shea caterpillar, Cirina butyrospermi, which feeds exclusively on shea leaves, is very rich in proteins
The approach has been to feed the larvae individually in the petri dishes wish the leaves of shea and to measure the different biological parameters
The study was conducted in Bobo-Dioulasso at the Agricultural Entomology Laboratory of the Farako-Bâ experimental station of the Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA) in Burkina Faso
Summary
The shea caterpillar, Cirina butyrospermi, which feeds exclusively on shea leaves, is very rich in proteins It is a source of protein in human food and is consumed by many ethnic groups in Burkina Faso and elsewhere in Africa [1]. One of the main constraints on the consumption of this insect is its seasonal availability This insect observes during its development cycle a mandatory diapause of up to 11 months. In light of the effects of climate change in recent years, very few studies have been conducted on the biology of the insect using laboratory breeding. This limits the handling of the shea caterpillar under natural farming conditions. This study on some of the insect’s main biological parameters will contribute to the availability of updated information and to the development of continuous insect mass rearing methods
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