Chemical components in yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) reared with tea powder

Abstract

The yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L.) were reared by different ratios of tea powder and wheat bran powder mixtures, and weighted every day during the whole 10 days rearing. The content of tea polyphenols, total catechins, catechin (C), epicatechins (EC), epigallocatechins (EGC), epicatechin gallates (ECG), epigallocatechin gallates (EGCG), and nutrition components such as protein and fatty acid in the yellow mealworms were determined after 10 days rearing. The yellow mealworms can put on weight and grow well when the proportion of tea powder belows 80%, while 100% tea powder rearing has no signifi cantly reduced the weight of yellow mealworms. The content of tea polyphenols, total catechins, C, EC, EGC, ECG, and EGCG all enhance signifi cantly along with the increase ratio of the tea powder. The protein content increase more signifi cantly at 50% and 80% ratios treatments than the other treatments. Tea powder added rearing reduces the content of saturated fatty acid, and has a complex effect on the content of unsaturated fatty acid. Comprehensive analysis of the components determined show that 50% ratio is the best for yellow mealworm rearing.

Keywords

• Yellow mealworm
• Tea
• Protein
• Fatty acid