标题：Assessment of Proximate and Mineral Status of Rhinoceros Beetle Larva, Oryctes rhinoceros Linnaeus (1758) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Itokin, Lagos State, Nigeria
摘要：Larvae of Rhinoceros beetle ( Oryctes rhinoceros ) Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae) is well relished as snacks or main meal in Southwest Nigeria but little is known about its proximate and nutritional composition . The beetle larvae were therefore collected from Itokin, Lagos State, Nigeria and analysed using standard procedure of the Association of Analytical Chemists. The proximate analysis revealed that the sampled beetle larvae contain 16.97+0.04% moisture, 12.92+0.02% ash, 1.16+0.06% crude fibre, 48+0.05% crude protein , 20.35+0.08% carbohydrate and 0.06+0.61% fat. The ash content is a pointer that the insect has high mineral content hence the mineral element analysis was carried out using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Following acid digestion the larva sample was analyzed for Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Iron (Fe) and potassium (K), respectively. The results showed that the O. rhinoceros sample analysed contain 0.03+0.004 (mg/100 g) Ca, 0. 0.17+0.03 (mg/100 g) K, 21.82+0.60 (mg/100 g) Na, 4.10+0.07 (mg/100 g) Fe. The values were within the recommended daily allowance for these minerals. These results indicate that the beetle larva has huge potential as a base for new food/feed products of extensive nutritive value .
