Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Saarinen, Emily
Area of Concentration
Biology
Abstract
Edible insects, also known as “microlivestock,” are becoming increasingly popular across the U.S. and Europe as health foods and in developing countries as a low-cost nutrient source. They pos sess many advantages over “macrolivestock,” including higher nutritive content, lower environmental impact, lower land use requirements and lower cost of rearing and processing. However, insect rearing requires high electricity usage, and many species have highly specific diets that can become expen sive. Pillbugs (suborder Oniscidea), an edible yet rarely consumed arthropod, may offer a new form of minilivestock that does not have these problems. Their broad diet, temperature tolerance, scarce need for light or space, and ease of rearing could make them a cost-effective and easy-to-farm food source, both for commercial businesses and for malnourished families and communities seeking a nu tritious food source they can raise at home. Pillbugs are, however, a poorly understood microlivestock, and little to no research has been done on their nutritional profile. Chemical procedures were used to determine the amount of iron, calcium and calories in pillbugs, and these amounts were compared to those of a set of edible insects and macrolivestock meats: crickets, mopane worms, mealworms, beef, pork, chicken and cow milk. Pillbugs showed higher iron content than any comparison insect or meat, and more calcium than all comparison products except for crickets and milk. Pillbugs had about the same calorie content as mealworms and milk, more than crickets and chicken, and less than mopane worms, beef and pork. These findings indicate that pillbugs may be nutrient-rich enough to compete with insects as a microlivestock; however, further research on their mineral, vitamin and protein con tent must be done to fully understand their nutritional profile.
Recommended Citation
Moore, Iliana, "Determination of Mineral & Calorie Content of Edible Isopods (A. nasatum) & Examining Their Potential as a Useful Microlivestock" (2020). Theses & ETDs. 5876.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5876