Nutritive value of variegated grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus (L.) Ademolu K.O.*, Salami S.E., Iyeh C.I., Aladesida A.A., Joda A.O.1, Idowu A.B. Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria 1Department of Crop Protection, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ayetoro Campus, Nigeria *Corresponding author Email: kennyademolu@yahoo.com
Online published on 5 February, 2019. Abstract The act of eating insects (entomophagy) has been on the increase due to their medicinal and nutritional importance. This study examines the gender differences in the nutritive value of adult variegated grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus (L.). The proximate (crude protein, fibre ash, fat and carbohydrate), mineral (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Fe2+), vitamin (A, B1, B2 and C), anti-nutrients (flavonoids, tannin, saponin, alkaloid and antraguinone) assays and heavy metals compositions (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni) of newly emerged male and female adults were analyzed by standard methods. Adult female Z.variegatus had significantly higher (p<0.05) crude protein, ash, fibre and carbohydrate than the male. Similar trend was observed for mineral composition and vitamins assay of the adults. Anti-nutrients and heavy metal composition of the adults varied from 0.210–8.82% and 0.113–1.264 mg/100g, respectively with the female showing higher values. Adult female Z.variegatus is thus more nutritious than the male. Top Keywords Zonocerus variegatus, adult, nutrients, sexual differences, protein, fibre, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, heavy metals. Top |