Nutritional Value of Mealworm, Tenebrio molitor as Food Source

Abstract

Nutrition value of mealworm, Tenebrio molitor was analyzed due to increasing demand of usage as a protein source for domestic animals and even further for human consumption. The purpose of the present work was to determine the chemical compostion of the Tenebrio molitor larvae, adult that were maintained under standard condition for further usage of mass-rearing system and its exuvium, and excreta. Tenebrio molitor, larvae, adult, exuvium and excreta contained 46.44, 63.34, 32.87, and 18.51% protein respectively, suggested that even excreta could be used as an additional supplement in food recycling process. This protein was also rich in amino acids such as Isoleucine, leucine and Lysine which all met the nutritional value recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Fatty acid composition was detected with high component of oleic acid (C18:1), along with linoleic acid (C18:2) and palmitic acid (C16) in all adult, larvae, exuvium and excreta. These oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2) and palmitic acid (C16) components were the same or even highly contained in excreta of mealworm 22.29, 47.19 and 19.17% respectively. Longer chains of unsaturated fatty acids consisted of two to three double bonds are known as healthy product was recognized in large amount. These results show new ways to consume mealworms and its waste for animal and human consumption.

Recent advances in role of insects as alternative protein source in poultry nutrition

“…The micro-minerals profile was found as Zn (104.28 mg/kg), Fe (66.87 mg/kg) and Cu (13.27 mg/kg). Remarkable composition of the long chain of FAs in larvae meal were detected with the highest component oleic acid alongwith linoleic acid and palmitic acid as values 43.17, 30.23, 16.72%, respectively (Ravzanaadii et al 2012). Finke (2015) reported that MW contained considerable quantities of most of the B vitamins (B 2 : 8.7; B 3 : 46.5; B 5 : 15.6; B 6 : 6.90; folic acid: 1.55 & biotin: 0.43 mg/kg) and choline (1410 mg/kg), although lower levels of both vitamins B 1 (1.1 mg/kg) and B 12 (0.0013 mg/kg) were found in MW.…”

“…The minimum and maximum values of CP, EE, ash, CF and energy in MW larvae were reported as 45-60% (Józefiak and Engberg 2015), 25-43% (van Broekhoven et al 2015;Józefiak and Engberg 2015), 3.0-4.5% (RamosElorduy et al 2002;Józefiak and Engberg 2015), 5.0-8.8% (Ramos-Elorduy et al 2002;Józefiak and Engberg 2015) and 244-781 cal/kg DM, respectively (Finke 2002;De Marco et al 2015). The total CP content of MW adult, exuvium and excreta were reported as 63.34, 32.87, and 18.51%, respectively (Ravzanaadii et al 2012). Same researchers reported that total EE content was 7.59, 3.59 and 1.3% for MW adult, exuvium and excreta, respectively.…”

“…Recently, Hussain et al (2017) recorded a considerable amount of CP (45.83%) and EE (34.20%) and almost all EAAs especially meth (1.34%) and lys (4.51%) in MW. Ravzanaadii et al (2012) reported that MW larvae are too low in Ca (434.59 mg/kg) and rich in K (9479.73 mg/kg) and P (7060.70 mg/kg). The Ca content and the Ca:P ratio are not adequate for poultry production (particularly for hens), but such problems can be solved by feeding MW with a Ca fortified diet for 1 or 2 d (Makkar et al 2014).…”

Effects of fishmeal replacement by Tenebrio molitor meal on growth performance, antioxidant enzyme activities and disease resistance of the juvenile pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ )

“…Approximately 1,500 species of edible insects are reported across 113 countries (Ravzanaadii, Kim, Choi, Hong, & Kim, 2012). Approximately 1,500 species of edible insects are reported across 113 countries (Ravzanaadii, Kim, Choi, Hong, & Kim, 2012).…”

Mealworm Powder as Culture Media of Local Isolate Semarang Entomopathogenic Nematodes

“…According to Ravzanaadii et al (2012), larvae of mealworms contain 63.34% protein which is rich in amino acid Isoleucine, leucine, and lysine. According to Lokeshwari and Shantibala, 2010), insects including mealworm larvae have the potential to become a source of protein for humans and animals, because of the abundance of availability as well as more environmentally friendly compared to the source of protein from vertebrates.…”