Insects as Food

953 found that Boletus edulis contained 0.83 i.u./g, Cantharellus cibarius 0.83, Gyromitra esculenta 1.12, Psalliota campestris (grown in dark) 0.12 (in light) 0.62.It should be pointed out that there is doubt when the name Psalliota campestris is used.This name should be restricted to the field mushroom which is now known to be a different species from the forms under cultivation.It is probably safe to assume that the cultivated species-P.hortensis ( P .bispora)-has been studied in experiments on nutrition unless the contrary is stated.Anderson & Fellers (1942) found that commercially cultivated P .campestris contained in mg/Ioo g : Vitamin A None Vitamin D None Thiamine 0.12 Vitamin K ++ Riboflavin 0.52 Nicotinic acid 5.85 Ascorbic acid 8.60 Pantothenic acid 2.38Perhaps it would be well to end with the cultivated mushroom.Potassium and phosphorus salts are the chief constituents of the ash, with no significant amounts of calcium but with copper and iron in appreciable amounts.Rats receiving mushrooms as the sole source of protein in their diet survived a 6-week test period and made a gain in weight equivalent to 309/~ of that shown by rats on a casein diet.One further point, Friese (1948) concluded that provided sound mushrooms are used they can be cooked and held overnight in a refrigerator without fear of anything untoward.