Mineral Composition Of Four Wild Harvested Edible Insects Consumed By The Indonesian People With An Updated List Of Edible Insects In Indonesia

The use of edible insects as food is gaining attention. This study evaluated the toxic elements and minerals composition for four dried edible insects: Phyllophaga helleri (Hope, 1837), Valanga nigricornis (Burmeister, 1838), Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer, 1773, Hyblaea puera (Cramer, 1777). Element content (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn and Se) in the selected edible insects were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This study also contributes to revising the current taxonomic list of edible insects consumed by Indonesians. Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) and Zinc (Zn) concentrations were highest in Hyblaea puera (Cocoon). Iron (Fe) concentration was highest in Hyblaea puera (Adult). Copper (Cu) concentrations were highest in Valanga nigricornis . Selenium (Se) concentration was highest in Gryllus bimaculatus . The investigated insect species to be considered as a uniform source of Ca, K, Zn, Cu and Fe. These edible insects may be a source of mineral nutrition. Taxonomic analysis of edible insects from Indonesia was presented. A list of 133 edible insects was compiled and updated. Of the edible insects, Coleoptera accounting for about 21%, followed by Hymenoptera (19%), Orthoptera (18%), Hemiptera (10%), Lepidoptera (10%), Odonata (10%), Isoptera (6%), Mantodea (3%), and the least are Psocodea (1%) and Ephemeroptera (1%), Phasmatodea (1%).