Fatty acids and proximate composition of eight Thai edible terricolous insects

Fatty acid composition and proximate analysis of eight terricolous insects namely dung beetle (Copris nevinsoni Waterhouse), short tailed cricket (Brachytrupes portentosus Lichtenstein), june beetle (Holottichia sp.), queen caste (Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius), weaver ant (Clecophylla smaragdina Fabricius), termite (Termes sp.), longan stink bug (Tessaratoma papillosa), cicada (Meimuna opolifera Walker) were determined. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was the most predominant fatty acid found in all analyzed insects, followed by saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA). The concentration of total PUFA ranged from 213 in cicada to 1514 mg/100 g in dung beetle. There were five PUFAs; 18:3n - 3, 20:3n - 6, 20:4n - 6, 20:5n - 3 and 22:6n - 3 detected in the insect samples. Two fatty acids, 20:3n - 6, and 20:4n - 6 were found in all analyzed insects, while, 20:5n - 3 was only detected in dung beetle which lives in herbivore faeces, at concentration of 300 mg/100 g accounted for 13% of total fatty acid. The SFA content in ranged from 234 in termite to 733 mg/100 g in dung beetle. Only one MUFA, 18:1 was detected in the all analyzed insects. The protein content of insects ranged from 37% in queen caste to 54% in dung beetle. The highest amount of carbohydrate (16%) was found in cicada. Lipid contents ranged from 5% in june beetle to 37% in queen caste, while ash contents of edible insects ranged from 2% in queen caste to 12% in june beetle. We suggest that the insect could be considered as a good nutritional food source especially for fat and protein. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.