African fungus-growing termites and other insects for human and poultry nutrition.
Loading...
Date
2004
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Food insecurity can contribute to the advancement of diseases such as
growth stunting and HIV/AIDS. A holistic approach to addressing food
insecurity includes reviewing local resources; including indigenous food
stuffs. Six studies investigate the potential of insect nutrition to meet
dietary needs in rural South Africa. A novel trapping method for
Trinervitermes sp. is examined by parameters of time, sustainability and bait
used. Local grass (Themeda triandra Forssk.) seemed to be the most
effective bait, being significantly more attractive than loose mound soil
(p=0.01), wet maize stalks (p=0.01) or cardboard (p=0.05). The trapping
device was demonstrated as an effective tool in assessing the feeding
preferences of Trinervitermes sp., which compete directly with cattle for
grazing food resources.
The chemical composition of Macrotermes natalensis alates (winged,
wingless and fried), soldiers, and Odontotermes sp. alates (wingless) was
determined. Alates were rich in fat, ranging between 49.2-60.6% (dry
matter basis). The protein content ofM natalensis and Odontotermes sp.
alates compared favourably to pork and chicken. Alates were high in
glutamic, aspartic and alanine amino acids and low in methionine, serine
and threonine. Amino acid digestion for broiler chickens was high, ranging
between 87.6-96.1%.
In an era where rural and urban cultures are rapidly merging, entomophagy
may be discarded as an embarrassment or nonsensical practice. The high
nutritional content of M natalensis and Odontotermes sp. should be
publicised both to increase the awareness of their high quality as a food
source for both poultry and human consumption and to avoid the
abandonment of cultural practices that make sense.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.
Keywords
Edible insects., Insects as food., Entomophagy., Theses--Agricultural extension and rural resource management.