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The nutritive value of 25 edible Orthoptera in Mexico is shown. Protein content ranges from 43.93% to 77.13% (mix of Edible Acrididade of Puebla). Fat percentage goes from 4.22% to 34.21%. Richest species in ashes were Arphia fallax S., Sphenarium histrio G. and Sphenarium purpurascens Ch. with 16.5%. Energy contribution varies from 14.05 kJ to 21.88 kJ. Their amino acids profile was compared with the WHO/FAO/UNU Pattern (1985). The total quantity of es-sential amino acids that all insects species provides was superior to those signaled in the pattern. The highest quantity (53.60 g) was for Sphenarium histrio G. Chemical score goes from 50% to 88%. In vitamins, the highest value in Thiamine and Riboflavine was for Sphenarium magnum M., in Niacine for Sphenarium borrei B., in vitamin C and for vitamin D Acheta domestica L., and in Vitamin A for Periplaneta americana L. In minerals, all species were very rich in magnesium. All the edible orthopterans results were compared with those of the most conventional mexican foods used to obtain proteins. The quantity and quality of the nutrients that these edible orthopterans allows, provides a significant contribution to the nutrition of the peasants who eat them

In this paper, we reported the butterflies and moths that are consumed in Mexico. We identified 67 species of Lepidoptera that are eaten principally in their larval stage in 17 states of Mexico. These species belong to 16 families: Arctiidae, Bombycidae, Castniidae, Cossidae, Geometridae, Hepialidae, Hesperiidae, Lasiocampidae, Noctuidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Pyralidae, Saturniidae, Sesiidae, and Sphingidae.Saturniidae, Pieridae, Noctuidae and Nymphalidae were the more species consumed with 16, 11, 9, and 8 species, respectively.The genera with the largest numbers of species were: Phassus, Phoebis, Hylesia and Spodoptera, with three species.Their local distribution, corresponding to each state of Mexico, is also presented.

In the present paper we have determined the fatty acid content of some edible insects of Mexico. A comparative analysis of the insect species studied in this research showed that caproic acid was present in a minimal proportion which ranged between 0.01 for Periplaneta americana (nymphs) and 0.06 (g/100 g, dry basis) for Euschistus strenuus. The highest proportion of caprilic acid (0.09) was found in Tenebrio molitor (adults). Atta sp. had the highest amount of capric acid (0.26). Polistes sp. was found to be rich in lauric acid (0.77) and for myristic acid it had the highest content (5.64). Dactylopius sp. and E. strenuus were rich in palmitic acid (14.89). Euschistus taxcoensis had the highest quantity of palmitoleic acid (12.06). Llaveia axin exhibited the highest quantity of stearic acid (22.75). Polistes sp. was found to be rich in oleic acid (38.28). The highest quantity of linoleic acid was observed in T. molitor (larvae) (10.89), and in L. axin the highest content of linolenic acid (7.82) was obtained. A comparison between the species under the present investigation revealed that, in general, the insects are poor in caproic, caprilic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitoleic and linolenic acids, because the quantities were either minimal or could not be detected at all. They had moderate quantities of stearic, palmitic and linoleic acids and had high quantities of oleic acid. Finally it was concluded that although a particular insect species is unable to fulfil the total fatty acid need for a human, if consumed in combination they could definitely be able to supply a good amount of this highly valued nutrient.

Anthropoentomophagy is an ancient culinary practice wherein terrestrial and aquatic insects are eaten by humans. Of these species of insects, terrestrial insects are far more commonly used in anthropoentomophagy than aquatic insects. In this study we found that there are 22 genera and 78 species of edible aquatic beetles in the world. The family Dytiscidae hosts nine genera, Gyrinidae one, Elmidae two, Histeridae one, Hydrophilidae six, Haliplidae two and Noteridae one. Of the recorded species, 45 correspond to the family Dytiscidae, 19 to Hydrophilidae, three to Gyrinidae, four to Elmidae, two to Histeridae, four to Haliplidae and one to Noteridae. These beetles are the most prized organisms of lentic watersThe family that has the highest number of edible food insect genera and species is Dytiscidae. Here, the global geographic distribution of species in these organisms is shown, and a discussion is presented of its importance as a renewable natural resource widely used for food in various countries.

Growth of the ornamental fish industry is being hindered by the scarcity of low cost feed; hence alternative protein supplements should be explored. In this context the present study aims to evaluate whether the grasshopper Oxya fuscovittata could be used as a supplement for fish meal in the diets of Poecillia sphenops, which is one of the most common ornamental fishes worldwide. The present work is divided into three phases: In the first phase proximate composition of the grasshopper is obtained and five diets are prepared where fish meal is gradually replaced by Oxya meal and named as control, D1, D2, D3 and D4. All the diets are formulated on iso-nitrogenous basis where the protein percentage is fixed at 400 g/kg. The second phase deals with feeding trial and in the third phase all the data of the feeding trial are subjected to a linear model. The feeding trial shows that the control, D1 and D2 fed fishes have almost similar results. The linear model proves that the variation in the indices are mainly due to replacement of fish meal by Oxya meal, not due to the variations of rice husk and mustard oil cake that are also used to formulate the diets of the present study. From the results two Oxya supplemented diets, i.e. D1 and D2 are proved to be almost equivalent to the control diet. Hence it is concluded that Oxya meal is able to replace 25% to 50% of fish meal from the diets of P. sphenops.

The present study deals with the taxonomical analysis of the edible insects commercialized in the state of Morelos, Mexico. We have recorded two species under the order Orthoptera and four species under Hemiptera–Heteroptera. Our work revealed that grasshoppers and small hemipterans known as ‘jumiles’ are the two main insects sold in the markets of the state of Morelos. We also discuss insects’ prices and their economic importance for the livelihood improvement of the local people connected to the edible insect trade.

Anthropo-entomophagy has been practiced since pre-Hispanic times and today it is still preserved in certain places in Mexico. In addition, indigenous societies recognise the importance of insect consumption as an alternative source to conventional animal protein. In the state of Morelos, for example, insects are a significant part of the traditional diet of the inhabitants of rural areas. Nevertheless, no systematic research has been done to recognise the insect species used nor the aspects related to anthropo-entomophagy. This is the reason why this ethno-entomological research about edible insects was conducted. In this study, there is a report about 61 species of edible insects that are consumed in their different developmental stages in the state of Morelos. Grasshoppers (= chapulines) (Orthoptera) and bugs (= jumiles) (Hemiptera) stand out for their abundance and high degree of acceptance. The ways in which they are prepared and preserved range from rudimentary to highly elaborated, and some date from Mexican pre-Hispanic times.