Enhancing Cricket Farming Efficiency: Comparative Analysis of Temperature Effects on Three Edible Malagasy Species

As demand for sustainable protein intensifies, edible crickets offer a promising solution to food insecurity and environmental strain, particularly in regions like Madagascar. This study investigated the effects of two rearing temperatures (28 °C and 30 °C) on life-history traits of three edible cricket species-<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>, <i>Gryllodes sigillatus</i>, and <i>Teleogryllus lemur</i>-under controlled laboratory conditions. Growth, survival, development time, and biomass yield were quantified for each species (<i>n</i> = 150 per temperature treatment) and analyzed using <i>t</i>-tests, chi-squared tests, and ANOVA. Results revealed distinct species-specific thermal responses. <i>G. bimaculatus</i> exhibited accelerated development and higher biomass at 30 °C without significant survival loss. <i>G. sigillatus</i> maintained high survival but developed more slowly at 30 °C, suggesting thermal sensitivity. In contrast, <i>T. lemur</i> demonstrated substantial growth gains at 30 °C but suffered a 50% reduction in survival, indicating heat intolerance. Development time and biomass yield varied significantly across species and temperature treatments (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). These findings highlight critical trade-offs between growth efficiency and survival in insect farming systems. <i>G. bimaculatus</i> emerges as a strong candidate for high-yield, thermally resilient farming, while <i>T. lemur</i> requires cooler rearing environments. This work informs species selection and environmental optimization for scalable, climate-adaptive cricket farming in tropical regions.