Nutritive value of variegated grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus (L.)

The act of eating insects (entomophagy) has been on the increase due to their medicinal and nutritional importance. This study examines the gender differences in the nutritive value of adult variegated grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus (L.). The proximate (crude protein, fibre ash, fat and carbohydrate), mineral (Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Fe²⁺), vitamin (A, B₁, B₂ and C), anti-nutrients (flavonoids, tannin, saponin, alkaloid and antraguinone) assays and heavy metals compositions (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni) of newly emerged male and female adults were analyzed by standard methods. Adult female Z.variegatus had significantly higher (p<0.05) crude protein, ash, fibre and carbohydrate than the male. Similar trend was observed for mineral composition and vitamins assay of the adults. Anti-nutrients and heavy metal composition of the adults varied from 0.210–8.82% and 0.113–1.264 mg/100g, respectively with the female showing higher values. Adult female Z.variegatus is thus more nutritious than the male.