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The Role of Insects

The Role of Insects

Generally, insects deliver a host of ecological services that are fundamental to the survival of humankind. They also play an important role as pollinators in plant reproduction, in improving soil fertility through waste bioconversion, and in natural biocontrol for harmful pest species, and they provide a variety of valuable products for humans such as honey and silk and medical applications such as maggot therapy.
In addition, insects have assumed their place in human cultures as collection items and ornaments and in movies, visual arts and literature.
Tackling the growing waste crisis by rearing some species of insects on organic wastes is an emerging trend, which would otherwise go to landfill. In addition to continued supply of protein, replacing plant-based protein and fish meal with insect meal lets the ecosystems to rebuild and reduces greenhouse gas emission. Bring insect protein into the mainstream of animal feed for the aquaculture, livestock, and pet sectors is an urgent need to save the environment. In addition, insect protein production through ‘mini-livestock farming’ has enormous potential to reduce the level of undernutrition in critical areas across the world. Sustainable insect farming could contribute substantially to increased food security, most especially in areas susceptible to environmental stochasticity.
Moreover, insects can be reared on organic side-streams (including human and animal waste) and can help reduce environmental contamination. Insects are reported to emit fewer greenhouse gases and less ammonia than cattle or pigs, and they require significantly less land and water than cattle rearing. Compared with mammals and birds, insects may also pose less risk of transmitting zoonotic infections to humans, livestock and wildlife. Insects are a highly nutritious and healthy food source with high fat, protein, vitamin, fiber and mineral content. For example, the composition of unsaturated omega-3 and six fatty acids in mealworms is comparable with that in fish (and higher than in cattle and pigs), and the protein, vitamin and mineral content of mealworms is similar to that in fish and meat.

Insect Farm vs Conventional Livestock

Insects promoted as food emit considerably fewer greenhouse gases (GHGs) than most livestock (methane, for instance, is produced by only a few insect groups, such as termites and cockroaches).
 Insect rearing is not necessarily a land-based activity and does not require land clearing to expand production. Feed is the major requirement for land.
 The ammonia emissions associated with insect rearing are also far lower than those linked to conventional livestock, such as pigs.
 Because they are cold-blooded, insects are very efficient at converting feed into protein (crickets, for example, need 12 times less feed than cattle, four times less feed than sheep, and half as much feed as pigs and broiler chickens to produce the same amount of protein).
 Insects can be fed on organic waste streams.
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Sources:

Dickie F., Miyamoto M. and Collins C.M. (2019). The Potential of Insect Farming to Increase Food Security. In: Edible Insects Edited by Mikkola H. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88106.

 Van Huis A,  Van Itterbeeck J, Klunder H, Mertens E, et al. (2013). Edible insects: future prospects for food and feed security. Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Mealworm

Mealworms are the larval form of the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. This cosmopolitan beetle feeds primarily on farinaceous materials, and is usually found in flour mills, barns, etc., being considered a pest. Like all holometabolic insects, they go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Larvae typically measure about 2.5 centimeters (0.98 in) or more, whereas adults are generally 1.25 to 1.8 centimeters (0.49 to 0.71 in) in length.

Over her adult lifespan of about 6-12 months, a female will, on average, lay about 500 eggs. After 4 to 19 days the eggs hatch. During the larval stage, the mealworms feed on fungus, seeds and decaying plants and molt between each larval stage, or instar (9 to 20 instars). After the final molt, they pupate. The new pupa is whitish and turns brown over time. After 3 to 30 days, depending on environmental conditions such as temperature, it emerges as an adult beetle.

Mealworms are typically used as a pet food for captive reptiles, fish, birds, and some small mammals. They are also provided to wild birds in bird feeders, particularly during the nesting season. Mealworms are useful for their high protein content. They are also used as fishing bait. They are commercially available in bulk and are typically available in containers with bran or oatmeal for food.

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