TITLE:
Study of Some Biological Parameters of Cirina butyrospermi Vuillet (Lepidoptera, Attacidae), an Edible Insect and Shea Caterpillar (Butyrospermum paradoxum Gaertn. F.) in a Context of Climate Change in Burkina Faso
AUTHORS:
Dabire Anogmain Rémy, Bama Bapio Hervé, Ouedraogo Nafiba Sylvain
KEYWORDS:
Cirina butyrospermi, Proteins, Edible Insects, Shea, Biology
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Entomology,
Vol.6 No.1,
December
29,
2017
ABSTRACT: Cirina butyrospermi is the main lepidoptera whose larvae constitute one of the main sources of edible insect protein in human food and are consumed by many ethnic groups in Burkina Faso and elsewhere in Africa. The preservation and mass production of this useful insect call for increased knowledge of its biological parameters. This study was carried out at the Farako-Ba experimental, environmental and agricultural research station of the Burkina Faso Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research. The approach has been to feed the larvae individually in the petri dishes wish the leaves of shea and then to measure the different biological parameters. Laboratory results—under temperature conditions varying between 24.5°C - 31°C and relative humidity varying between 58.40% - 84.80% with a 12:12 photoperiod—show that the incubation time of eggs is 30 days on average. The development cycle, which includes five larval stages, all feeding on shea leaves, lasts 33.3 ± 3.5 days. Adults (imago) live on average 2.28 ± 0.63 days for males and 2.47 ± 0.56 days for females. Finally, the average number of eggs laid per female is 283.19 ± 96, with an average fertility rate of 84.26% ± 2.16%. Thus, some biological parameters of this insect in our study conditions are now known. These results could contribute to knowledge of the bio-ecology of this insect, improving prospects for diversification and increased nutritional quality for humans.