Scope and present status of rearing edible insects for animal feeding in Africa

Figures & data

Table 1. Proximate nutrient composition of common African edible insects (on a dry matter basis)

		Compositions (%)
Insect species	Stage	Protein	Fat	Fibre	Dry matter	Carbohydrate	Moisture	Ash	Energy (kcal per 100 g)	References
Caterpillars (Lepidoptera)
Gonimbrasia belina	L	55.30-65.80	15.16-23.38	-	87.30	8.20-10.98	12.70	8.30-12.50	250.00-352.00	Egan 2013; Tang et al. 2019; Hlongwane et al. 2021; Govorushko 2019
Hemijana variegata	L	52.42	19.33	8.32	-	9.49	5.87	5.23	552.00	Egan et al. 2014; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Beetles (Coleoptera)
Tenebrio molitor	L	38.30-52.35	24.70-43.08	1.97-20.22	-	2.20-26.25	2.80	2.36-4.10	444.00-577.40	Rumpold and Schluter 2013; Zielinska et al. 2017; Kim et al. 2019: Kuntadi et al. 2018; Tang et al. 2019; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021
Rhynchophorus phoenicis	L	28.40-45.44	21.10-69.78	2.58-25.14	-	6.59	2.70-26.00	1.43-6.06	478.87-584.68	Rumpold and Schluter 2013; Dobermann et al. 2017; Tang et al. 2019; Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Sternocera orissa	A	63.00	9.83	-	-	20.62	3.74	2.80	426.00	Egan 2013
Locusts (Orthoptera)
Nomadacris succincta		27.60	4.70							Kuntadi et al. 2018
Schistocerca gregaria		46.30-76.00	12.97-32.30	2.53-11.00	82.39-93.56	0.02-9.90	6.44-17.61	2.70-6.70	4270.00-527.49	Dobermann et al. 2017; Khalil 2018; Zielinska et al. 2017; Egonyu et al., 2021; Fombong et al. 2021
Locusta migratoria	A	54.16	30.52	9.19	77.77	-	22.23	3.08	179.00-512.34	Govorushko 2019; Fombong et al. 2021
Stinkbugs (Hemiptera)
Encosternum delegorguei	A	35.20-43.30	45.00-50.50	5.30	95.10	7.63	4.90	1.70	625.82-2599.00	Teffo 2007; Magara et al. 2021; Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Musundire et al. 2016; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Euschistus egglestoni	A	35.00-46.00	45.00	19.00	-	-	-	1.00	548.00	Rumpold and Schluter 2013; Tang et al. 2019
Termites (Isoptera)
Macrotermes bellicosus	A	22.44-40.70	26.30-48.00	1.69-6.21	96.15	3.48-7.42	3.85-22.79	1.18-11.26	496.50-696.10	Rumpold and Schluter 2013; Paul et al. 2020; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021; Akullo et al. 2018; Tang et al. 2019
Macrotermes nigeriensis	A	35.90-37.50	34.23-50.90	5.50-6.30	-	20.74	3.00-5.80	3.0-5.80	-	Fombong and Kinyuru 2018; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Macrotermes natalensis	A	20.94-65.62	21.40-22.50	2.20-7.85	-	42.80	2.98-3.00	1.90-4.10	467.00	Egan 2013; Rumpold and Schluter 2013; Fombong and Kinyuru 2018; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Macrotermes subhyalinus	A	38.42-39.34	44.82-47.00	6.20-6.37	-	1.86-7.98	0.94-6.50	4.7—6.56	535.00-612.00	Fombong and Kinyuru 2018; Govorushko 2019; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021
Crickets (Orthoptera)
Gryllus assimilis	A	56.00-71.04	7.00-32.00	7.00-8.28	-	12.46	3.50	6.00	397.00	Tang et al. 2019; Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021
Gryllus bimaculatus	A	58.30-65.34	11.9-20.74	5.80-9.50	73.66	8.16	26.34	4.11-9.70	120.00-469.91	Govorushko 2019; Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021; Fombong et al. 2021
Acheta domesticus	A	62.00-62.60	12.20-22.96	8.00	-	-	-	5.0	455.19	Dobermann et al. 2017; Tang et al. 2019; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021
Flies (Diptera)
Hermetia illucens	L	39.00-49.00	18.03-32.60	12.40	92.24	-	-	14.60-17.71	-	Tang et al. 2019; Anankware et al. 2021; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021
Musca domestica	L	54.00-63.99	11.49-24.31	-	88.45	-	-	5.16-9.84	552.40	Rumpold and Schluter 2013; Tang et al. 2019; Anankware et al. 2021
Ants (Hymenoptera)
Carebara vidua	A	40.80-42.50	38.20-47.50	6.90-9.10	-	-	3.90	1.60	-	Rumpold and Schluter 2013; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Animal nutrient requirements
Broiler chickens (%)		18.00-23.00	-	-	-	-	-	-	419–432	NRC 1994
Egg layers		15.00-18.00	-	-	-	-	-	-	350.00-400.00	NRC 1994
Turkey		14.00-28.00	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	NRC 1994
Fish		30–52	-	-	-	-	-	-	290.00-410.00	NRC 1993
Beef cattle (%)		7.00	-	-	-	-	-	-	390.00-610.00	Lalman and Richards 2017

L = larvae; A = adult; ‘-‘ = Not reported

Table 2. Essential amino acid composition of common African edible insects (on a dry matter basis).

		Compositions (g/100 g)
Insect species	Stage	Isoleucine	Leucine	Lysine	Methionine	Phenylalanine	Threonine	Tryptophan	Valine	References
Caterpillars (Lepidoptera)
Gonimbrasia belina	L	1.30	1.83	1.46	0.41	1.35	0.60	1.48	1.12	Orkusz 2021
Tenebrio molitor	L	4.00-8.35	6.90-14.00	4.90-10.70	1.20-4.00	3.20-6.54	3.60-7.70	1.00-2.16	5.90-12.80	Tang et al. 2019; Orkusz 2021
Rhynchophorus phoenicis	L	7.80	5.90	6.40	1.20	3.30	1.40	0.50	5.50	Tang et al. 2019
Locusts (Orthoptera)
Schistocerca gregaria	A	2.82-4.63	7.77-8.23	3.51-4.57	0.82-0.95	1.87-3.63	3.55-3.95	0.82	5.66-6.87	Zielinska et al. 2017; Fombong et al. 2021
Locusta migratoria	A	4.62	8.46	4.78	0.39	3.49	3.96	0.97	7.21	Fombong et al. 2021
Stinkbugs (Hemiptera)
Encosternum delegorguei	A	0.83-3.18	1.05-7.11	0.85-0.88	0.40-1.08	0.81-2.10	0.42-0.82	0.16-3.39	0.97-1.32	Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Musundire et al. 2016
Euschistus egglestoni	A	4.40	7.00	3.00	2.80	3.30	4.80	0.60	6.10	Tang et al. 2019
Termites (Isoptera)
Macrotermes bellicosus	A	5.10	7.80	5.40	0.80	4.40	2.80	1.40	7.30	Tang et al. 2019
Macrotermes subhyalinus	A	3.55	-	6.40	1.50	10.65	3.80	-	-	Fombong and Kinyuru 2018
Crickets (Orthoptera)
Gryllus assimilis	A	2.12-3.40	6.60-7.74	5.00-7.90	0.63-1.20	0.72-2.90	3.30-3.55	0.70-0.95	4.62-5.30	Tang et al. 2019; Magara et al. 2021
Gryllus bimaculatus	A	2.16-9.20	3.97-16.50	2.42-11.40	0.27-3.50	1.83-7.40	2.00-8.10	2.20	3.20-13.60	Magara et al. 2021; Fombong et al. 2021; Orkusz 2021
Acheta domesticus	A	2.60-4.45	4.50-9.75	3.50-5.40	0.90-1.40	1.40-3.00	2.20-3.60	0.40-0.55	1.07-3.70	Tang et al. 2019; Magara et al. 2021; Oonincx and Finke 2021
Flies (Diptera)
Hermetia illucens	L	4.00-4.33	6.60-6.96	5.60-5.91	1.40-1.88	3.80-4.15	3.60-3.90	1.10-1.51	5.60-6.38	Tang et al. 2019; Oonincx and Finke 2021
Musca domestica	L	3.20	5.70	6.90	2.20	5.00	3.30	3.20	4.40	Tang et al. 2019
Daily requirement in animals
Broiler chickens		0.62-0.80	0.93-1.68	0.55-1.18	0.29-0.57	0.56-0.72	0.45-0.85	0.14-0.23	0.69-0.90	NRC 1994
Egg layers		0.48-0.65	0.82	0.62-0.69	0.30	0.47	0.40-0.47	0.16-0.24	0.64-0.70	NRC 1994
Turkey		0.31-1.10	0.53-1.96	0.32-1.68	0.15-0.60	0.30-1.05	0.32-1.14	0.06-0.37	0.40-1.38	NRC 1994
Fish		0.90	1.30-1.60	2.00-2.20	1.20-1.60	2.10-2.50	0.90-1.50	0.20-0.30	1.30-1.40	NRC 1993

L = larvae; A = adult; ‘-‘ = Not reported.

Table 3. Mineral composition of common African edible insects (dry weight).

		Compositions (mg/100 g DM)
Insect species	Stage	Calcium	Phosphorus	Magnesium	Potassium	Sodium	Iron	Zinc	References
Caterpillars (Lepidoptera)
Gonimbrasia belina	L	0.80–17.00	14.80-543.00	56.00–160.00	1.20–36.30	26.90–33.50	11.80–54.50	1.90–16.60	Payne et al. 2016; Hlongwane et al. 2021 Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Verspoor et al. 2020; Mnisi et al. 2022
Tenebrio molitor	L	27.61-47.18	264-748.03	62.00-304.00	337.00-895.01	53.70-140.94	2.47-6.00	4.33-14.40	Zielinska et al. 2017; Kim et al. 2019; Kuntadi et al. 2018; Tang et al. 2019; Orkusz 2021; Verspoor et al. 2020
Rhynchophorus phoenicis	L	54.10-131.05	352.00-518.50	82.70-131.80	546.78-1617.00	48.40-56.18	14.70-22.75	10.15-26.50	Dobermann et al. 2017; Tang et al. 2019; Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Locusts (Orthoptera)
Nomadacris spp.	A	27.10	-	-	-	-	3.15	-	Kuntadi et al. 2018
Schistocerca gregaria	A	70.00-208.40	171.00	34.60-82.00	101.30-749.00	27.60-281.40	2.90-8.38	3.70-18.60	Zielinska et al. 2017; Khalil 2018; Egonyu et al. 2021
Locusta migratoria	A	-	-	85.00	-	-	9.20	25.00	Verspoor et al. 2020
Stinkbugs (Hemiptera)
Encosternum delegorguei	A	91.00	575.00	109.00	275.00	55.30	20.20	46.00	Teffo 2007; Magara et al. 2021; Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Musundire et al. 2016; Mabelebele et al. 2022
Euschistus egglestoni	A	204.00	-	1910.00	108.00	397.00	57.00	59.00	Tang et al. 2019; Mabelebele et al. 2022
Termites (Isoptera)
Macrotermes bellicosus	A	20.80-63.6	136.00-385.15	185.50	229.00	396.10	27.00-116.00	7.65-10.80	Fombong and Kinyuru 2018; Tang et al. 2019; Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Hlongwane et al. 2021; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021
Macrotermes nigeriensis	A	0.10	1.49	6.10	336.00	112.00	0.96	0.10	Fombong and Kinyuru 2018; Tang et al. 2019
Macrotermes natalensis	A	18.00	114.00	0.30	-	-	29.00	-	Fombong and Kinyuru 2018;Hlongwane et al. 2021
Macrotermes subhyalinus	A	22.00-58.70	182.30	42.63-104.80	259.60	123.60	11.52-53.3	8.10-10.23	Kinyuru, 2009; Meyer-Rochow et al. 2021; Verspoor et al. 2020
Crickets (Orthoptera)
Gryllus assimilis	A	45.30	0.80	2.19-8.92	367.13	0.42-0.99	0.15-2.78	0.24-1.42	Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Magara et al. 2021
Gryllus bimaculatus	A	105.14-240.17	702.02-1169.60	72.94-143.65	321.71-1079.90	88.84-452.99	9.50-9.66	14.39-22.43	Orkusz 2021; Magara et al. 2021; Mabelebele et al. 2022
Acheta domesticus	A	99.6-171.07	832.90-957.79	55.10-109.42	126.62-1126.62	167.00-435.06	5.46-9.20	6.71-26.60	Dobermann et al. 2017; Orkusz 2021; Tang et al. 2019; Magara et al. 2021; Verspoor et al. 2020
Flies (Diptera)
Hermetia illucens	L	934.00	356.00	174.00	453.00	88.70	6.66	5.62	Tang et al. 2019
Musca domestica	L	2010.00	1320.00	-	-	660.00	60.40	23.70	Tang et al. 2019
Ants (Hymenoptera)
Carebara vidua	A	22.30	106.00	10.40	-	-	10.40-10.70	5.70	Hlongwane et al. 2021
Recommended daily intakes
Broiler chickens		8.00-10.00	0.30-0.45	600.00	3.00	1.30-2.00	80.00	40.00	NRC 1994
Egg layers		2710.00-3250.00	150.00-250.00	355.00-900.00	1.30	130.00-150.00	45.00-55.00	28.00-54.00	NRC 1994
Turkey		6.00-17.00	2.10-8.00	475.00	3.50-8.00	1.20-2.50	-	41–70	NRC 1994
Cattle		1.60-3.80	1.20-2.00	1.00-4.00	6.00-30.00	0.60-1.00	-	-	Lalman and Richards 2017
Fish		1300.00-1500.00	-	240–770	2000.00-8000.00	-	30.00-330.00	15.00-200.00	Antony Jesu Prabhu et al. 2016

L = larvae; A = adult; ‘-‘ = Not reported.

Table 4. Vitamin composition of common African edible insects (on a dry matter basis).

		Compositions (mg/100 g)
Insect species	Stage	Vit A	Vit B1	Vit B2	Vit B3	Vit B5	Vit B12	Vit C	Vit D	Vit E	Vit K	References
Caterpillars (Lepidoptera)
Tenebrio molitor	L	0.02-0.03	0.18	0.81-1.21	4.07-4.65	-	0.47 (ug)	1.80-9.90	-	1.31-1.90	-	Orkusz 2021
Hemijana variegata	L	0.02	0.01	0.65	-	-	-	14.15	-	0.64	-	Egan 2013
Rhynchophorus phoenicis	L	11.25	-	2.20	-	-	-	4.3	-	-	-	Dobermann et al. 2017; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Locusts (Orthoptera)
Schistocerca gregaria	A	-	-	-	-	-	0.22	-	-	-	-	Fombong et al. 2021
Locusta migratoria	A	-	-	-	-	-	1.10	-	-	-	-	Fombong et al. 2021
Stinkbugs (Hemiptera)
Encosternum delegorguei	A	0.23	0.63	0.86	-	-	-	-	-	2170.00	-	Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Termites (Isoptera)
Macrotermes bellicosus	A	2.90-11.37	0.87	0.32–2.00	1.59	-	-	3.40-3.58	2.22	3600.00	–	Kewuyemi et al. 2020; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Macrotermes nigeriensis	A	0.35	0.67	1.56	2.74	–	–	17.76				Fombong and Kinyuru 2018
Macrotermes natalensis	A	2.56	–	1.54	–	–	–	3.01	–	–	–	Fombong and Kinyuru 2018; Hlongwane et al. 2021
Macrotermes subhyalinus	A	–	0.131	1.14	4.59	–	–	–	–	–	–	Fombong and Kinyuru 2018
Crickets (Orthoptera)
Gryllus assimilis	A	2.90	–	0.23	–	–	10.00	1.01	–	330.00	40.00	Magara et al. 2021; Kewuyemi et al. 2020
Gryllus bimaculatus	A	–	0.36	1.91	3.10	–	1.35		–	–	–	Fombong et al. 2021; Orkusz 2021
Acheta spp.	A	24.33–67.00	0.04	3.14–3.41	3.84	2.30	0.01	3.00	17.15	1.32	151.90	Magara et al. 2021; Dobermann et al. 2017; Orkusz 2021
Vitamin requirement by animals
Broiler chickens		0.90–2.20	–	2.30–5.10	20.00–37.00	5.00–14.00	0.01	–	0.21–0.40	0.01–0.05	0.37–0.59	NRC 1994
Egg layers		2.75–3.52	–	2.50–3.60	9.00–21.00	1.90–8.90	0.50–2.00 (ug)	–	0.15–0.25	0.01	>1.00	NRC 1994
Turkey		2.00–5.28	–	2.70–4.00	21.00–71.50	8.6–10.5	0.002–0.010	–	0.30–1.10	0.01–0.28	1.76	NRC 1994

L = larvae; A = adult; ‘–‘ = Not reported; Vit = Vitamin.

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Data availability statement

The data used in this review article was acquired from recently published scientific literature from different journals. Databases were accessed using electronic data sources such as Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Research Gate, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. In addition, the citations included in articles from the databases were used to search for further relevant literature.