Paiko, Y. B., Dauda, B. E. NPreliminary Data on the Nutritional Potentials of the Larvae of Edible Dung Beetle Consumed in Paikoro Local Government Area Of Niger State

Abstract

In this study, the proximate composition of the larvae of dung beetle (Aphodius rufipes), a traditional delicacy of the Gbagyi people in Niger State was carried out. The larvae contained 3.25, 2.74, 22.42, 30.50 and 13.07 % moisture, ash, crude protein, crude lipid and carbohydrate respectively. Fourteen fatty acids were identified with saturated and unsaturated acids constituting 90.21 and 77.78 % respectively. The insect was found to be a good source of minerals such as Na, K, Ca, Mg and phosphorus. Results show that larva of dung beetle contain 20.41 % and 24.17 % of both essential and non-essential amino acids with Leu/Ile ratio of 1.14. The insect larva could serve as an alternative source of protein and other nutritional supplements in human and animal diet.