Nutritive and Anti-nutritive Composition of Locust Bean Tree Emperor Moth Larvae Bunaea alcinoe (Lepidoptera-saturniidae Stoll 1780) from Gurara Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria

The analysis of proximate, mineral, fatty acids and anti-nutritional composition of Bunaea alcinoe were carried out. Results showed that Bunaea alcinoe had moisture 5.03±0.12, crude protein 44.23±0.62, crude lipids 10.85±0.65, crude fibre 11.80±0.27, carbohydrate 22.16±1.09 g100g-1 and energy value of 1530.08±0.06 kJ/100 g. This insect contained reasonable amounts of sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and manganese. Anti-nutritional analysis revealed the presence of oxalate (15.47±1.88), phytate (18.21±2.14) and cyanide (1.68±0.20)mg/100g; which were within the permissible limits. The insect larvae could therefore serve as an additional promising sources of protein and mineral contents for Human and animal feeds formulations.