AN INVESTIGATION INTO INSECT PROTEIN

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Abstract
Due to its easy availability, cleanliness and relative ease of cultivation, Mexican fruit fly larvae (Anastrepha ludens) were selected to study insect protein. The larvae were found to contain 79.5% moisture, 9.8% protein, 6.2% fat, 2.3% ash and 2.2% nitrogen-free extract. Larvae protein was found to be high in lysine and methionine, but low in valine, isoleucine and tryptophane, deficiencies which were reflected by a corrected PER value of 1.63. Protein concentrate and isolate prepared from larvae contained 65% and 87% protein, respectively, with corresponding recoveries of 94% and 85%. The protein solubility curve was typical, exhibiting minimum solubility of 8% at pH 5 and maximum solubility of 95% at pH 10. The protein was found to possess negligible foaming and emulsifying properties, while larvae RNA content was 1.9%, a lower value than those reported for yeasts, but higher than those reported for microscopic algae.