An Evaluation of the Nutrients and Some Anti-nutrients in Silkworm, Bombyxmori L. (Bombycidae: Lepidoptera)

Insects are important as items of aesthetic values, pests and as food. Bombyx mori L. is an economically important insect. It is an edible insect that is eaten in the tropics. The larvae of silkworm, B. mori, are popular for silk production. Silk is produced when the larvae are ready to pupate. Both the larval and the pupal stages of B. mori were analyzed for their nutrient composition, protein solubility, mineral, functional and anti-nutritional factors. The pupal stage had a higher protein content (21.59%) than the larval stage which had 20.79%. The fat content of the larva was 17.57% while that of the pupa was 19.90%. The ash content was higher in the larva (6.34%) than that in the pupal stage (5.50%). The proteins in the larval and pupal stage have two iso-electric points. The results of the mineral analyses showed that mineral salts are persistently higher in the pupal stage than in the larval stage. The functional analyses revealed that the larval stage is highly desirable for chopped meat or powdered food production than the pupal stage. The anti-nutritional content of both stages fall within the tolerance levels with the exception of phytin phosphorus and phytate where higher values were obtained.