ENTOMOPHAGY STUDIES

Etomophagy studies on the 20 local government areas in the five states of Northern Nigeria and proximate analysis of some edible insects were carried out in the month of January-December, 2004. People in the areas surveyed were found eating insects. The most consumed insects are locust (84.90 ± 4.80 per cent), followed by termites (66.80 ± 23.60 per cent), crickets (51.80 ± 17.90 per cent) and beetle larvae (42.00 ± 27.40 per cent), however their consumption was found varying from state to state and even among LGA. Occasions of consumption, insects, mammals reasons of consumption, stages and parts of birds, insects, consumer material used for collection and earnings from sale of insects were also studied. Proximate analysis of collected insects' bodies and of conventional meat was done to compare their composition. The difference in the contents of nutrients and minerals was not significant, which showed that the insect's diet when taken in the required amount can meet up the body requirement and can supplement the conventional meat proteins. Consumption and rearing of edible insects insectaries on commercial scale should be encouraged so as to have them readily available yearly.