Performance of the African edible bush-cricket Ruspolia differens on single and mixed diets containing inflorescences of their host plant species
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Abstract
The African edible bush-cricket, Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), is an
economically valuable insect in sub-Saharan Africa. For its mass-rearing, suitable diets that can
sustain its performance need to be identified. This study aimed at finding inflorescence diets of 10
host plant species and their mixtures that result in the highest R. differens production. We reared
newly hatched nymphs to adults on inflorescences of single host species, and also on a gradient of
five diversifying dietary mixtures consisting of one and mixtures of two, three, five, and seven
host plant species. For the single host-plant diets, the developmental time was shortest on
Pennisetum purpureum, Chloris gayana, and Brachiaria ruziziensis (approximately 63 days),
whereas the fresh weight was highest on B. ruziziensis and P. purpureum (approximately 0.383 g).
Survival was highest (>65%) on C. gayana, P. purpureum, B. ruziziensis, Setaria sphacelata, and
Sporobolus pyramidalis, and lowest on Panicum maximum, Hyparrhenia rufa, Cynodon dactylon,
and Paspalum scrobiculatum (<40%). With respect to diet mixtures, the developmental time was
significantly shorter (on average 16 days shorter), and survival was higher, in the most diversified
diets compared to the least diversified diets. The contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)
and fatty acid composition did not differ significantly among the diets. However, the content of
monosaturated fatty acids (MUFA) differed significantly among the diets and there was a
significant diet*sex interaction. From the applied point of view, based on our results, for maximal
weight and survival plus fast development, we recommend rearing on P. purpureum, C. gayana,
B. rizuziensis, and S. sphacelata, and on dietary mixtures of inflorescences. These findings are
important in designing large-scale rearing programs for this species.
Description
Keywords
Developmental time, Diet mixing, Fatty acid, Insect farming, Mass-rearing, Nsenene
Citation
Malinga, G. M., Valtonen, A., Hiltunen, M., Lehtovaara, V. J., Nyeko, P., & Roininen, H. (2020). Performance of the African edible bush‐cricket, Ruspolia differens, on single and mixed diets containing inflorescences of their host plant species. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 168(6-7), 448-459. doi: 10.1111/EEA.12932