The fatty acid composition of edible grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) feeding on diversifying diets of host plants
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Entomological Research
Abstract
Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) is a highly valued edible
grasshopper species in Africa. However, the effects of plant diets on lipid content
and fatty acid composition of R. differens are not well understood. We tested the
effects of four diets on the total lipid content and fatty acid composition of R.
differens. Sixth instar nymphs of R. differens were reared on one, and mixtures of
two, three, and six natural plant inflorescences. Individuals collected from the field
constituted a control treatment.We extracted lipids and analyzed the fatty acidmethyl
esters using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. We analyzed if the total lipid
content, body weight, and fatty acid composition differed among diets and between
the sexes using two-way ANOVAs and a PERMANOVA model, respectively. The
total lipid content and weight of R. differens did not differ among the diets. The nine
common fatty acids were palmitic (mean across treatments, 26%), oleic (22%),
palmitoleic (18%), linoleic (13%), stearic (7%), myristic (6%), myristoleic (4%),
α-linolenic (2%) and arachidic acid (1%). The composition of fatty acids and the
proportion of essential fatty acids significantly differed among the diets. The
proportion of essential fatty acids was highest in the control treatment (21%) but
low in less diversified (one to three feed) diets (12–13%). This study demonstrates
that the fatty acid composition in R. differens can be influenced through diet. Thus,
with dietary manipulations, using local plants in Africa, it is possible to produce R.
differens with preferred high quality essential fatty acids for human consumption.
Description
Keywords
Edible insect, Essential fatty acids, Fat content, Insect rearing, Plant diet
Citation
Rutaro, K., Malinga, G. M., Lehtovaara, V. J., Opoke, R., Valtonen, A., Kwetegyeka, J., ... & Roininen, H. (2018). The fatty acid composition of edible grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Serville)(Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) feeding on diversifying diets of host plants. Entomological Research, 48(6), 490-498. doi: 10.1111/1748-5967.12322