Nutritional Properties of Larval Epidermis and Meat of the Edible Insect Clanis bilineata tsingtauica (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Insects represent a sustainable, protein-rich food source widely consumed in Asia, Africa, and South America. Eating Clanis bilineata tsingtauica Mell is common in the eastern part of China. A comparative characterization of nutrients in the meat and epidermis of C. bilineata tsingtauica was performed in this study. The results showed this insect to be high in nutrients, particularly in the epidermis where protein total was 71.82%. Sixteen different amino acids were quantified in C. bilineata tsingtauica, and the ratio of essential to nonessential amino acids in the epidermis and meat was 68.14% and 59.27%, respectively. The amino acid composition of C. bilineata tsingtauica is balanced, representing a high-quality protein source. Eight minerals were quantified in C. bilineata tsingtauica, including four macro and four trace elements. Fe in the epidermis and Zn in the meat were abundant at 163.82 and 299.31 μg/g DW, respectively. The presence of phytic acid impacted the absorption of mineral elements in food. We also detected phytic acid in C. bilineata tsingtauica. The molar ratio of phytic acid to zinc (PA/Zn) in C. bilineata tsingtauica was very low (3.28) compared to Glycine max and Cryptotympana atrata, which indicated that mineral utilization was high. In conclusion, this study confirms that C. bilineata tsingtauica is a highly nutritious food source for human consumption, and the results provide a basis for further consumption and industrialization of this edible insect.