Energy Supplied by Edible Insects from Mexico and their Nutritional and Ecological Importance

Fats provide the majority of the energy necessary for sustaining life. Immature stages of holometabolous insects have high quantities of polyunsaturated fat. The energy contents of edible insects varies according to the species and region found. Coleopteran and Lepidopteran species provide more energy. Energetic values for livestock are 165–705 kcal/100g, and vegetables 308–352 kcal/100g, while edible insects provide 217–777 kcal/100g, and insects raised on organic wastes provide 288–575 kcal/100g. Furthermore, early stages of poultry, fish, ostrich, and pig, raised on insects, had conversion efficiency values of 1.24:1 – 2.83:1. The energetic cost of collecting edible insects is lower than that for vertebrates. Hence, insects may efficiently provide the necessary energy for the vital functions of our organism.