Nutritonal and Antinutritional Characteristics of Some Insects Foragaing in Akure Forest Reserve Ondo State, Nigeria

The levels of some nutrients, minerals and anti-nutrients of eight dominant insects herbivore distributed among six families from Akure forest reserve (Aponmu) located in Ondo State, Nigeria were determined in order to ascertain their suitability as a food and feed source. The insects contained g per kg dry matter crude protein 72.93 -1.13 g kgG , crude fiber 29.58 - 2.04 gkgG , ether extract 53.06 - 1.21 g kgG , Ash 7.72 -0.69 g kgG and Carbohydrate 86.67 - 23.00 g kgG , (as nitrogen free extracts). Generally, there are significantly (p# 0.05) higher Nitrogen free extract and crude fiber in treehopper, ash in termite, crude protein in Ant and moisture in Anaphe venata. The protein and oil contents revealed that the entire insect analized as a good source of edible protein, which comparable to what is obtainable in chickens and beef suggest them as a potential protein supplement. The insects contained g kgG Dm calcium which ranges between 0.0126 and 0.0015 (g kgG Dm), magnesium between 0.0074 and 0.0025 g kgG Dm, phosphorus between 1224.67 and 425.00 ppm and iron ranges between 166.127 and 82.89 ppm. The calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in grasshopper were significantly (p# 0.05) higher, as well as iron in treehopper than any insect examined. The mineral composition was generally comparable with what is obtained in other insects. The insects contained tannin between 1050.00 and 250.00 mgkgG and phytate between 3159.0169 and 1100.15 mgkgG as the major anti-nutrient. The phytate and tannin recorded in this sturdy are generally lower than the lather level of 1% and 20- 40 kg-Dm, respectively. The presence of lower tannin and phytate content are of nutritional significance as tannin form insoluble complexes with proteins. More work is needed to ascertain the impacts of processing on the levels of these anti-nutritional factors.