Rhynchophorus phoenicis(African Palm Weevil) Infestation of Elaeis guineensis(Oil Palm tree): Research on Life Cycle and Nutritional Potential for Food Security

Consumption and utilization of insect food have been affected by several challenges, especially not understanding its biology and lack of nutritional insight as well as social unacceptability. The infestation and acceptability of African oil palm weevil-APW (Rhynchophorus phoenicis) was studied using standard scientific cycle analyis (biological and well structured nutritional acceptability survey ) procedures that crvers percentages, averages , correlation using google analytics and excel.The life cycle was studied at their natural habitat and as well as using a controlled setting of the habitat. Accpetibility studies wer done through effective questionnaire distributed online. Results from the study showed the life cycle of palm weevil passed through the egg to larvae stage, to pupae and adults.in a life cycle of two months (8 weeks). On the survey for nutritional acceptability, the demographic information indicated that 78% of the respondents were between ages 18 - 45 years, male (56 %); 98% of the respondents (98% ) had some levels of tertiary education were urban dwellers ( 84%) . The section which assayed the level of knowledge and perception showed that 26% were very familiar with palm weevil as source of nutrient , and further more 78% opined that it is nutrition paramount in the choice of food. The food preference and acceptability indicated that more than 32% would rank it as beef, more than 40% as Egg, more than 46% to fish, more than 28% as cricket, 22% ranks as grasshopper, more than 54% as chicken. On the factors that would influence the willingness to consume APW, Nutritional value is considered the predominant factor amongst (60%) .of the population while 70% approved it fully nutrition wise. High protein content (64 %),consumer acceptance(64%), and economic opportunities (52%) are the major concerns indicated. More than 38% would very likely include APW as complimentary diet.. Nutritional information (80%) would encourage the choice of the consumption of APW as diet. It is thus noteworthy that the commercialization of APW would be accepted as a major diet if the aforementioned factors are considered. And this would reduce nutritional problems in the region.