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Table 2 Fat content (%) of common edible insects (% in crude fat of dry weight)

From: Edible insects as a food source: a review

Name

Stage/Part

Crude fat (%)

Saturated fatty acids

Monounsaturated fatty acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (EFA)

Total SFA

C14:0

C16:0

C18:0

Total MUFA

C16:1 n7

C18:1 n9

Total PUFA

C18:2 n6

C18:3 n3

Blattodea (cockroach)

 

25.05

37.18

1.22

23.13

11.41

45.02

2.33

41.88

17.85

16.43

0.75

Blatta lateralis

Nymph

21.90

48.30

1.90

26.80

18.10

42.20

3.30

38.00

9.60

8.70

0.70

Periplaneta americana

Nymph

28.20

26.07

0.54

19.47

4.72

47.84

1.35

45.76

26.09

24.17

0.79

Coleoptera

 

35.81

37.68

1.62

29.77

5.40

53.12

7.32

44.91

13.01

11.61

0.99

Copris nevinsoni

Larva

13.60

44.02

1.76

28.97

13.29

50.41

2.75

47.66

5.57

3.92

0.84

Rhynchophorus phoenicis (African palm weevil)

Larva

50.23

39.90

2.85

34.20

1.70

55.00

19.65

35.05

22.85

19.50

2.75

Tenebrio molitor (Yellow mealworm beetle)

Larva

38.00

30.12

0.39

28.20

0.89

66.77

5.98

60.63

3.11

2.84

0.18

Zophobas morio (superworm)

Larva

41.42

36.69

1.47

27.70

5.70

40.31

0.91

36.29

20.51

20.19

0.18

Diptera

 

21.94

45.74

6.63

22.53

2.18

34.65

16.87

17.63

16.04

15.08

0.88

Hermetia illucens (soldier fly)

Larva

26.00

67.93

9.87

13.25

2.02

17.39

4.08

12.84

14.67

13.91

0.53

Musca domestica (house fly)

Pupa

15.50

33.40

3.20

27.60

2.20

38.90

20.60

18.30

17.00

14.90

2.10

Musca domestica (house fly)

Larva

24.31

35.89

6.83

26.74

2.31

47.67

25.92

21.75

16.44

16.44

0.00

Hemiptera

 

32.25

45.44

1.17

11.42

32.33

21.75

5.45

17.91

34.17

4.90

0.45

Aspongubus viduatus (melon bug)

Adult

54.20

37.87

0.34

31.33

3.47

56.78

10.62

45.53

5.35

4.90

0.45

Tessaratoma papillosa

 

23.55

41.46

 

0.46

41.00

7.27

 

7.27

53.35

  

Meimuna opalifera

Adult

19.00

56.99

1.99

2.47

52.53

1.20

0.28

0.92

43.80

  

Hymenoptera

 

18.71

34.58

1.54

23.83

8.46

50.97

2.57

43.99

4.07

3.39

0.60

Apis mellifera (honeybee)

Adult

12.30

25.20

0.60

14.40

9.30

67.00

2.60

45.20

7.80

7.80

 

Apis mellifera (honeybee)

Pupa

20.10

51.10

2.90

35.10

12.60

48.90

0.60

47.60

   

Apis mellifera (honeybee)

Larva

18.91

51.80

2.40

37.30

11.80

48.20

0.70

47.50

   

Polyrhachis vicina (ant)

Pupa

22.00

24.10

0.60

17.67

4.30

72.27

8.77

61.43

3.60

2.07

0.80

 Bee brood

Immature stages

20.25

20.70

1.20

14.70

4.30

18.50

0.20

18.20

0.80

0.30

0.40

Isoptera (termite)

 

36.80

48.98

2.17

42.45

2.86

17.94

2.10

15.84

33.08

24.24

3.90

Macrotermes bellicosus

Dewinged adults

36.80

48.98

2.17

42.45

2.86

17.94

2.10

15.84

33.08

24.24

3.90

Lepidoptera

 

37.95

36.42

0.36

26.92

9.11

22.60

1.37

21.23

40.57

6.51

33.94

Bombyx mori (domesticated silkworm)

Pupa

35.00

28.80

0.10

24.20

4.50

27.70

1.70

26.00

43.60

7.30

36.30

Imbrasia belina (mopane caterpillar)

Larva

23.38

37.88

1.15

31.90

4.71

36.00

1.80

34.20

26.12

6.02

19.60

Imbrasia truncata (mopane caterpillar)

Larva

16.40

46.50

0.20

24.60

21.70

7.60

0.20

7.40

44.40

7.60

36.80

Samia ricinii (mopane caterpillar)

Larva

77.00

32.50

0.00

26.97

5.53

19.10

1.78

17.33

48.17

5.11

43.06

Orthoptera

 

19.92

35.17

13.86

20.65

0.67

18.81

1.56

17.25

46.14

32.20

1.70

Acheta confirmata (cricket)

Adult

21.14

32.80

26.10

5.50

1.20

33.50

2.40

31.10

33.90

32.20

1.70

Brachytrupes portentosus

Adult

18.70

37.53

1.61

35.79

0.13

4.11

0.71

3.40

58.37

  

Common meat

 Beef

  

32.25

0.77

16.74

9.53

18.83

 

10.52

49.08

36.10

6.16

 Pork

  

41.04

3.43

21.68

12.71

43.04

2.93

39.39

16.00

7.29

1.71

 Chicken

  

33.33

1.33

22.67

8.00

46.67

0.27

41.33

20.00

14.00

0.67

 Fatty acid requirement in human nutrition (g)

  

26.90

   

30.85

  

16.90

14.95

1.50

  1. SFA Saturated fatty acids: C14:0, myristic acid; C16:0, palmitic acid; C18:0, stearic acid. MUFA: C16:1 n7 – palmitoleic acid; C18:1 n9 – oleic acid. PUFA: C18:2 n6 – linoleic acid; C18:3 n3 – α-linolenic acid. The average data of each order are bold. The data were summarized by the following references: Elmadfa and Kornsteiner 2009, Wood et al. 2004, Józefiak et al. 2016, Kulma et al. 2016, Finke 2005, 2013, Mariod et al. 2011, Van Huis et al. 2013, Belluco et al. 2013, Rumpold and Schluter 2013. Mean values are shown if multiple different reports exist