Balancing the Growth Performance and Nutritional Value of Edible Farm-Raised Sago Palm Weevil (<i>Rhynchophorus ferregineus</i>) Larvae by Feeding Various Plant Supplemented-Sago Palm Trunk Diets

Abstract

Herein, the effect of supplementing ground sago palm trunk (GSPT) with varying concentrations of plant-based ingredients (PIs), including rice bran (RB), soybean meal (SM), and perilla seed (PS), on the nutritional profile of sago palm weevil larvae (SPWL) was investigated. Increased PS intake induced an increase in α-linolenic acid level and a reduction in the n-6/n-3 ratio in SPWL (p p fads2 gene expression. RB, SM, and PS at the appropriate concentrations of 17.5%, 8.8%, and 7.0% in GSPT (F3 diet), respectively, boosted both protein quantity and quality of SPWL, as indicated by higher levels of essential amino acids, particularly lysine, than the FAO protein reference. Therefore, incorporating PIs into a regular diet is a viable method for enhancing the nutritional value and sustainability of farm-raised SPWL as a potential alternative source of high-quality lipid and protein.

Keywords

• edible insect
• palm weevil larvae
• growth performance
• plant-based ingredients
• nutritional value
• lipid metabolism