Variations in Chemical Composition Value of Adults and Nymphs Desert Locust, Schistocerca gregaria Forskal (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Abstract

Recently, interest in the benefits of insects for food and feed has increased, while desert locusts are rich in nutrients and can be easily grown sustainably, even though locusts classified as pests that ruin crops. This study aims to investigate the chemical content, nutritional content and amino acid (AA) profile in adults and nymphs of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria Forskal (Orthoptera: Acrididae), such as crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), total carbohydrate (TC), crude fiber (CF), ash, gross energy and minerals content. The analysis indicates that the presence of crude protein, crude fat, total carbohydrate, crude fiber, ash, dry matter and moisture content were (56.79 and 65.92%), (28.82 and 15.15%), (2.98 and 4.59%), (7.9 and 7.92%), (3.51 and 6.42%), (42.34 and 32.46%), and (57.66 and 67.54 %), gross energy content was (498.45 and 418.37 kcal), respectively in adults and nymphs. Generally, the results in both adults and nymphs showed that non-essential AA were the dominant ones of AA, followed by essential then semi-essential AA. Minerals represented by P (87.44 and 91.35), K (6732.78 and 7826.96), Ca (33.8 and 50.7) and Mg (13.56 and 18.24) ppm in adults and nymphs, respectively.