Growth, survival and development of house crickets (<i>Acheta domesticus</i>) fed flowering plants

House crickets (Acheta domesticus) are increasingly being used as food. This has the potential for a more efficient food production that also may benefit agroecosystems. As first study to compare feeds based on European wild flowering plants feed house we examined five common known support biodiversity of insects (white clover (Trifolium repens), white nettle (Lamium album), (Urtica dioica), rough comfrey (Symphytum asperum) and gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata). These control diet were fed dried sole ad libitum one-day-old 62 days in climate-controlled laboratory. Cricket weight, mortality intake recorded every 7 days. An additional test preferences forages effect maturation by providing free choice rapeseed wheat meal either an early- or late-cut red pratense) Mortality nettle, exceeded 80% days, so these removed from trial after 14 Survival was 59% 28 average cricket weight similar. By day 62, 32 mg, compared with 201 mg feed. In test, consumed 15-30% clover, 31-37% 39-64% rapeseed. Crickets access showed higher (P&lt;0.001) proportion adults (28%) (5%). We conclude during early growth stages, supplementation increase maturation. Using including rearing additionally benefits lower costs.