Edible insects of Northern Angola

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

From 2013-2017, we accompanied and interviewed local people harvesting edible insects in the Northern Angolan province of Uige. Insect and host plant samples were collected for species identification and nutritive analyses. Additionally, live caterpillars were taken to feed and keep until pupation and eclosion of the imago, necessary for morphological species identification. Altogether, 18 insect species eaten by humans were recorded. Twenty four edible insect species were formerly known from the country, four of which are confirmed in this study and 14 species additionally recorded. Sciatta inconcisa Walker, 1869 (Erebidae) and Gastroplakaeis rubroanalis Wichgraf, 1913 (Lasiocampidae) are reported for the very first time as human dietary foods. All 18 species are illustrated and DNA-Barcodes are provided to enable reidentification of species. Though much effort has been undertaken for the identification of the 18 species, only 14 species have been identified at species level and another four only at family level. The scientific names are listed along with the vernacular names. A nutritional analysis is provided for nine species most of which are consumed in the villages, but some are also traded, for which a market study has been conducted. Information is also given on traditional collection and preparation as well as cultural aspects of edible insects in Northern Angola.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55-82
Number of pages28
JournalAfrican Invertebrates
Volume58
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 8 Dec 2017
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85039057227
WOS 000418373200001

Keywords

Keywords

  • Edible insects, DNA-barcoding, nutritional values, market study, Uige province, RHYNCHOPHORUS-PHOENICIS, NUTRITIONAL-VALUE, SAFETY, FOOD