The Effect of Different Cold Storage Period on Total Lipid Amount of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Larvae

Abstract

The ever-increasing world population indicates that it is inevitable to consider insects such as Tenebrio molitor, which are used as live food and even human food in some countries, as an alternative food source. Especially T. molitor larvae are a source of food with high nutritive value for including high lipid and protein. The main material of this study was T. molitor cultures. Flour:wheat flour (250 g: 250 g) in a ratio of 1:1 was used as food. 25 g wheat germ and 5 g dry yeast was put in it. Larvae at stages 13-15th were grouped as control and trial groups and kept for 5, 10, 15 and 20 days at specified temperatures. This study seeks answer to the question “will the insect continue to keep its lipid sources during the periods in which it is kept in the cold, or will it continue to use its energy sources since the physiological adaptations it develops are not enough?” This study evaluates the total lipid amount and percentages of T. molitor larvae stored in refrigerator for different periods. Total lipid amount and percentages of the larvae stored in the cold for 5, 10 and 15 days were found to be higher when compared with the control group. A tendency to decrease was observed in larvae kept for 20 days. As a result, it is recommended for producers not to keep in the refrigerator for more than 15 days. Otherwise, it should be considered that there may be a decrease in important energy and food sources.