Comparison of Various Nutritional Components in Yellow Mealworms
Most insects have a high fat content, particularly the pupae of yellow mealworms which contain even higher levels of fat. Analysis of yellow mealworm fatty acids reveals that unsaturated fatty acids are abundant in yellow mealworm fat, mainly consisting of essential fatty acids for humans (linoleic acid) and palmitic acid (C16:0), while myristic acid (C14:0), which increases blood cholesterol, is present in lower amounts. Additionally, the content of fat-soluble vitamins is high. These characteristics indicate that it is a beneficial type of fat for animals, especially for humans. Therefore, yellow mealworm fat is an edible fat with development potential.
Types of Fatty Acids in Yellow Mealworm Fat (%)
Fatty Acid Types
C14:0 C16:0 C16:1 C18:0 C18:1 C18:2 C18:3
Content 6.52 18.92 0.99 2.43 46.28 23.10 1.76
From the table, we can see that yellow mealworms have a high amino acid content and a complete range of types. The table shows that the essential amino acid ratio of yellow mealworms and silkworm pupae is close to the ideal amino acid ratio estimated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization for human needs, especially matching the ratios needed by infants. Therefore, the protein in yellow mealworms is an ideal protein source for human consumption. If yellow mealworm raw materials are scientifically combined with other foods, they can be used as nutritional food for infants or special food for athletes.
Comparison of Essential Amino Acid Ratios in Yellow Mealworms and Human Needs (Ratio: based on tryptophan = 1)
Category Tryptophan Threonine Methionine+Cysteine Isoleucine Phenylalanine+Tyrosine Lysine Valine Leucine
Yellow Mealworm III 1.0 4.94 2.00 3.72 9.56 6.89 9.19 6.92
Yellow Mealworm Pupae 1.0 5.01 2.62 5.85 9.07 6.27 9.06 9.17
Silkworm Pupae 1.0 5.00 3.38 7.47 6.90 7.25 6.17 7.04
Infants 1.0 5.10 3.40 9.50 4.10 7.40 6.00 5.50
Adults 1.0 2.00 3.70 4.00 2.90 4.00 3.40 2.90
After repeated sampling tests, the results show that yellow mealworms are rich in inorganic salts, and the content of trace elements may vary depending on the type of feed and origin. For example, adding an appropriate amount of sodium selenite to the feed, which is absorbed by the yellow mealworm body and converted into biological selenium, allows for the quantitative production of selenium-rich food. From the table, we can also see that the zinc, copper, and iron content in yellow mealworms is higher than in conventional foods.
Table - Content of Major Elements and Trace Elements in Insect Powder
Insect Name Potassium (g/kg) Sodium (g/kg) Calcium (g/kg) Magnesium (g/kg) Iron (g/kg) Zinc (g/kg) Copper (g/kg) Manganese (g/kg) Phosphorus (g/kg) Selenium (g/kg)
Yellow Mealworm III 13.70 0.656 1.38 1.940 65 0.122 25 13 6.83 0.462
Yellow Mealworm Pupae 14.20 0.632 1.25 1.850 64 0.119 43 15 6.91 0.475
Bee Pupae —— 8.600 4.80 0.016 191 0.064 21 350 1.95 0.175
Cicada 3.00 —— 0.17 —— —— 0.082 —— —— 5.80 ——