Supplementation of maize bran with either sunflower or oil palm seed cakes improves growth and nutritional value of the edible house cricket (<i>Acheta domesticus</i>)

Abstract The house cricket, Acheta domesticus (Linnaeus) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is one of the major insects successfully domesticated for food around the world. However, expensive feed is still a major challenge in the production of the insect, leading to low returns. This study aimed at developing an alternative diet for mass rearing of A. domesticus . We tested five diets, namely commercial chicken mash (CCM; control diet), maize bran supplemented with 50% sunflower seed cake (SFC50), 50% shea seed cake (SBC50), 50% oil palm seed cake (POC50), and 25% maize bran + 25% of each of the oil seed cakes (MSSP25). The experiment was arranged as a randomized unreplicated block design with 50 blocks, each containing one replicate of each diet treatment. Survival of A. domesticus fed on maize bran supplemented with either sunflower seed cake or oil palm seed cake was comparable to that of those fed on the control diet. However, emerging adults on oil seed supplemented diets (SFC50 and POC50) were heavier than their counterparts raised on the control diet. The shortest development time was observed among A. domesticus fed on 50% sunflower seed cake compared to all other diets. Acheta domesticus fed on the control diet was richer in protein, while those reared on maize bran supplemented with either sunflower seed cake or oil palm seed cake contained higher levels of fat, minerals (sodium, calcium, and iron) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). We conclude that supplementation of maize bran with 50% of either sunflower seed cake or oil palm seed cake improves survival and weight gain of A. domesticus and shortens their development time. In addition, these diets modify the nutritional composition of A. domesticus , especially lipids, minerals, and PUFAs. We recommend the use of SFC50 and POC50 as alternative diets to commercial chicken mash in the mass production of A. domesticus .