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The nutritional properties of three insects consumed in Cameroon were characterized: wild or farmed Rhynchophorus phoenicis larvae, and caterpillars of Imbrasia truncata and I. epimethea. Rhynchophorus larvae are rich in lipids and also contain protein of good nutritional quality. These larvae thus make a potentially good energy supplement. Less lipid-rich but with alpha-linolenic acid as the main fatty acid, Imbrasia caterpillars are a rich source of high-quality proteins, containing all the essential amino acids. These caterpillars thus make a good option to address protein-energy undernutrition and readjust ω3 fatty acid intakes. The sorption curves put maximum water contents in the range 5-6%, making the insect flours microbiologically stable ikn storage at temperatures of up to 40°C.

Partenaires

• Food and Metabolism Sciences Laboratory (LabSAM), Yaoundé I University, Cameroun : G. Kansci
• UNH INRA, Clermont-Ferrand : N. Hafnaoui
• Living Forest Trust (LIFT), Yaoundé, Cameroun : J. Fogoh Muafor
• UR 072, IRD, Yaoundé, Cameroon/Evolution, Génomes, Comportement & Ecologie, CNRS, IRD, Univ. Paris-Sud, Gif-sur-Yvette: Ph. Le Gall
• Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Paris, UMR 7205 (MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, EPHE – Sorbonne Université), Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Paris : R. Rougerie.
• Oniris/GEPEA : C. Loisel

Publications

Fogang Mba A.R, Kansci G., Viau M., Hafnaoui N., Meynier A., Demmano G., Genot C. Lipid and aminoacid profiles support the potential of Rhynchophorus phoenici larvae for human nutrition (2017) Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 60, 64–73. DOI : 10.1016/j.jfca.2017.03.016

Fogang Mba A.R., Kansci G., Viau M., Ribourg L., Fogoh Muafor J., Hafnaoui N., La Gall P., Genot C. Growing conditions ans morphotypes of African Palm weevil (Rhynchophorus phoenici) larvae influence their lipophilic nutriet but not their amino acid compositions (2018) Journal of Food Composition and Analysis., 69,67-97. DOI : 10.1016/j.jfca.2018.02.012