Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2024 | 16(6): 25400–25409
ISSN 0974-7907
(Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8508.16.6.25400-25409
#8508 | Received 06
May 2023 | Final received 08 May 2024 | Finally accepted 02 June 2024
Bio-ecology
of the bush cricket Tarbinskiellus portentosus (Lichtenstein, 1796) (Insecta:
Orthoptera: Gryllidae): a relished edible insect in Nagaland, India
Patricia Kiewhuo
1, Lirikum Jing 2, Bendang Ao 3 & Lakhminandan Kakati 4
1,2 Department of Zoology, Don Bosco
College, Kohima, Nagaland 797001, India.
3 Department of Zoology, Nagaland
University, Lumami, Zunheboto,
Nagaland 798627, India.
4 Faculty of Science, Assam down
town University, Panikhaiti, Guwahati, Assam 781026,
India.
1 patriciakiewhuo16707@gmail.com, 2
lirikum1anyi@gmail.com, 3 bendang@nagalanduniversity.ac.in,
4 lakhmi.kakati1956@gmail.com
(corresponding author)
Editor: Anonymity requested. Date of publication: 26 June 2024 (online &
print)
Citation: Kiewhuo, P., L. Jing, B. Ao &
L. Kakati (2024). Bio-ecology of the bush
cricket Tarbinskiellus portentosus
(Lichtenstein, 1796) (Insecta: Orthoptera:
Gryllidae): a relished edible insect in Nagaland, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(6):
25400–25409. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8508.16.6.25400-25409
Copyright: © Kiewhuo et al. 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use,
reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing
adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: The paper is an outcome of DBT sponsored research project File no.
BT/PR17106/NER/95/452/2015 Sanctioned on 11.01.2017.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Patricia Kiewhuo—pursuing Ph.D in the Department of Zoology, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland. Currently serving as an assistant professor and head of the department of Zoology, Don Bosco College, Kohima, Nagaland.. She is actively engaged in research, particularly on entomophagy practices among the Nagas. Dr. Lirikum Jing—Ph.D in Zoology in the field of ecology from Nagaland University. He has been serving as an assistant professor at Don Bosco College, Kohima, Nagaland. He is actively engaged in research activities, and his research experience includes earthworm ecology, sustainable waste management, and entomophagy practices among the Nagas. Prof.
Bendang Ao—serving as a professor at Nagaland University (Central), Lumami, he has more than 20 years of teaching experience. He is actively engaged in research activities, and his areas of experience and expertise include Insect Physiology, Biodiversity, Entomophagy, and Entomotherapy. Under his supervision, six students have been conferred Ph.D and currently, there are eight students pursuing PhD. Prof. Lakhminandan Kakati—superannuated from Nagaland (Central) University. He is currently serving as professor cum chairperson of the Faculty of Science, Assam down town University, Guwahati,
Assam, and is actively engaged in teaching and research. He has professional expertise and
research experience in sericulture and silkworm diversity, edible insect and soil biology, and ecology. Nine students have been conferred Ph.D degree under his guidance and ten students are presently pursuing research with him. He has published 85
research articles in peer reviewed and indexed national and international journals, including one book.
Author contributions: PK—experimentation, field visitation,
data collection, manuscript drafting; LJ—experimentation, field visitation, data collection, editing, and statistical analysis; BA—supervision, review, and editing; LK—conceptualisation, supervision, review and editing
Acknowledgements: Authors would like to thank
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Government of India, for financial assistance
in the form of Junior Research Fellow (JRF). Further, the authors would also
like to extend sincere gratitude to the local people of Zaphumi
and Lumami village for allowing the field work to be
conducted in their jurisdiction.
Abstract: Tarbinskiellus portentosus
(Lichtenstein,
1796) (bush cricket), also called “viituo” in the Angami dialect, belongs to the order Orthoptera and the
family Gryllidae. It is one of the most common edible insects found in Nagaland
and is a potential source of animal protein and other nutrients. Despite being
highly preferred as food and relished, studying their ecology, biology, and
market potential is nonexistent, at least in Nagaland, India. Therefore,
the present study was conducted to fill the knowledge gap on the biology and
market potential of T. portentosus. Insects
were collected from the wild and reared as stock at 20–25 °C. The results show
that T. portentosus undergoes seven nymphal instars to fully develop into an adult with an
average growth rate of 9.94 ± 2.43 mg/day. T. portentosus
is found in the grassland vegetation in burrows up to 800 mm depth. Adult males
weigh about 2940 ± 93.0 mg, and females weigh 2980 ± 200 mg. The incubation
period of eggs was 33.8 ± 0.96 days and showed a moderate percent of hatching
efficiency (45.20 ± 0.28). In laboratory conditions, this cricket completed its
life cycle in 341 ± 4.29 days. Collection of adults involves handpicking and
pouring water, cleaning involves a gut removal process through head pulling,
and preparation for consumption is done by cooking with local spices, fried or
roasted. T. portentosus are sold in the local
market at INR 300/- for 250–300 g. With scanty information on growth and
reproduction, the present study serves as a baseline for future studies on the
biology of T. portentosus that may uplift the
local market through mass rearing.
Keywords: Entomophagy, food security,
northeastern India, rearing, socio-economy, soil cricket.
Introduction
Expansions of food production are
the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock products being
one of the most significant contributors that trouble the ideas of modern
sustainable means of livelihood (FAO 2017). Insect productions have little
environmental consequences compared to traditional livestock, and due to their
physiology, insects have better feed conversion rates and growth efficiency (Oonincx et al. 2015). For instance, Acheta
domesticus has a feed conversion ratio of 2.1,
meaning 2.1 kg of feed is required to produce 1 kg of edible products. In
comparison, for other conventional livestock such as cattle, pigs, and poultry,
25, 9.1, and 4.5 kg of feed is required to produce 1 kg of meat (Van Huis
2013). Edible insects provide 5–10% of the animal protein as well as fat and
calories, and various vitamins (A, B1, B2, and D) and minerals (iron, calcium)
(Gullan & Cranston 2005; McCluney
& Date 2008). Therefore, developing a new sustainable source of edible
insects has been recommended (Nikkhah et al. 2021).
Despite serving as a potential source of nutrients, only a few species of
insects are mass-reared. According to the European Food Safety Scientific
Committee, only nine different species of insects are being reared and farmed
in mass to be used as food (Halloran et al. 2017).
One of the downfalls of
unsuccessful mass-rearing of edible insects could be lack of essential
information on biology, growth, and reproduction. There are approximately
20,000 insect farms in Thailand that produce 7,500 metric tons per year, and
cricket is one of the promising insect that is farmed, produced in mass, and used for
domestic consumption as well as for selling in the market (van Huis et al.
2015). South Korea is another leading consumer of edible insects, and their
consumption has resulted in increased demand. The edible insect market’s value
in south Korea increased from 143 million in 2011 to 259 million in 2015 (Shin
et al. 2018). Similarly, entomophagy practices are widespread in India
(particularly Nagaland, northeastern India) (Kiewhuo
et al. 2022). Among the 106 edible insects consumed and relished, bush cricket Tarbinskiellus portentosus
is one of the most preferred insects in the region (Mozhui
et al. 2020 ). Therefore, studies on its biology and
reproduction are essential to enable the efficient usage of this promising
insect.
T. portentosus belongs to the order Orthoptera,
family Gryllidae, and is commonly found in southern and southeastern Asia,
including India, Thailand, and Indonesia. This species spends most of its time
under burrows with a single individual per burrow (Tantrawatpan
et al. 2011). It feeds on fresh plants and is considered crucial human food as
this species has higher economic value in southeastern Asia, especially
Thailand (Sverdrup-Jensen 2002). Yhoung-Aree (2010)
reported protein and fat content of 12.8/100 g and 5.7/100 g, respectively in T.
portentosus. Due to its high nutritional value, T.
portentosus has been consumed in many countries
(Buzzetti & Devrisese 2008; Yi et al. 2010). In
Thailand, T. portentosus is available all year
round at US$ 4.8 per kg
(Siriamornpun & Thammapat
2008). T. portentosus is also an important
protein source for fisheries and poultry production (
Sverdrup-Jensen 2002; Razak et al. 2012)
. A noteworthy study on the life history of T. portentosus
in the laboratory was conducted at 24.68 ± 1.26 °C by Hanboonsong
& Rattanapan et al. (2001). The authors
highlighted information on its longevity, number of instars, incubation period,
and food habits. A recent studies on genetic variation
in mainland Southeast Asia, such as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic,
Cambodia, and Myanmar, show that three morphotypes of T. portentosus are
available (Pradit et al. 2022). Although considered
highly relished insects with potential economic value, detailed information on
their biology under Nagaland’s climatic condition is lacking.
In Nagaland, T. portentosus, commonly known as ‘viituo’,
is primarily available during the rainy season, with its population peaks
during August–October. They are preferred as food by many sections of society
due to the nutritional and cultural values associated with them. Although T.
portentosus is preferred as a food supplement it
is not fully explored in Nagaland due to lack of knowledge of its biology.
Given the availability of technique to mass-produce, T. portentosus
has enormous potential to be made available for consumption at a minimal cost
of environmental pollution. In its available season (June–August), T. portentosus adults are sold at INR 150/- per 300 g in
the local market. However, before mass production, life history study is a
vital footstep that can facilitate the efficiency of insect utilization.
Therefore, the present study assesses the biology and life cycle of T. portentosus under laboratory conditions to fill the gap
in the existing knowledge on this novel insect.
Material
and Methods
Study area
The present survey for soil
cricket was carried out in one-year-old abandoned Jhum cultivated lands at Lumami and Zaphumi villages, Zunheboto district (26°13´42.82´´N and 94.28´24.70´´E ) (Figure 1). Since, the two villages are in close
proximity, both areas exhibit primarily grassland type vegetation.
Sample collections
Field visits were carried out to
collect T. portentosus adults from the
above-mentioned sites during the summer season (June–August in each year)
consecutively for three years from 2019–2021. Crickets were collected by
digging their burrows using a spade/machete and kept in containers with holes
to provide sufficient oxygen till they were brought to the laboratory for
rearing. Morphologically, identification was done by Mr. Sawapan
Pal, Assistant Zoologist, Orthoptera Section, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI),
Kolkata.
Rearing
The natural light and dark cycle
during insect rearing ranged from 10–13 h to 12–14 h. Adult crickets were kept
in large plastic containers with dimensions of 60 cm (length), 40 cm (breadth),
and 45 cm (height) filled with 40 cm of loose soil. The adults of T. portentosus were provided with natural food (leaves
found in their burrows such as Brassica oleracea var
capitata (cabbage), Ageratina
adenophora (Mexican devil) and water. The
moisture content of the soil was maintained at 35–45 % (Gravimetric method) and
the temperature of the rearing room ranged between 20–25 °C. During the year
2019–2021, life cycle studies were repeated thrice (once in each year), and the
results were based on a sample size of 75 males and 75 females in each cycle.
For growth rate studies, fresh
weight of different nymphal stages (alive) of T. portentosus was taken using a portable weighing machine
(iScale i-400c) at intervals of seven days
(irrespective of nymphal period) until the adult
stage, and the growth rate was calculated using the formula.
Maximum weight–minimum weight
Growth rate =
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of days to gain maximum weight
The final growth rate was
reported as mg per day, where, Maximum weight = Final weight of the nymph on
the day of measurement | Minimum weight = Weight of the previous measurement
(beginning of the 7 day) | Number of days to gain maximum weight = Number of
days counted from the day of minimum to maximum weight of the nymph (here we
count 7 days and weight was taken in triplicate).
To estimate eggs laid per female,
penultimate nymphs were segregated in a separate container at a 2:1 ratio of
male to female. This experiment was performed in five containers keeping three
individuals (2:1 male:female)
in each container; consequently, egg counting per female was carried out using
five females. Egg collection was done daily; prior to egg collection, adults
were shifted to another container with the help of insect-catching nets. Once
all the adults were carefully shifted, eggs were collected manually using a
spatula by searching through the soil (Image 1A). A single egg was kept in each
of the five containers (100 mm length, 40 mm breadth, 30 mm height) and
observed using a Labomed CZM6 microscope. Further,
five eggs were taken for morphological observations, such as changes in their
color, length (alloet-vernier caliper), weight (iScale i-400c), and incubation period were observed till
they hatched. Ten containers were utilized for life cycle studies, each
containing soil with an adequate moisture level. Subsequently, a single nymph
(first instar) was introduced into each container and observed daily to
understand the changes in body coloration, weight, size, and length.
The size of the container for
rearing was as per the size of the instar. Water was sprayed regularly to
moisten the soil (Image 1B). The first four instars were kept in rounded
containers of 110 mm diameter and 120 mm height filled with soil up to 50 mm
and covered with net (Image 1C). The last three instars were kept in circular
plastic containers of 180 mm in diameter, 200 mm in height, filled with soil up
to 100 mm, and covered with nets. Adults were kept in plastic containers 280 mm
in length, 200 mm in breadth, and 150 mm in height (Image 1D) filled with loose
soil up to 120 mm and provided with sufficient leaves (Brassica oleracea var.
capitata, A. adenophora).
The excess food in the rearing containers was removed and cleaned by
handpicking on a regular basis. Once the nymphs matured into adults, the
interactions between males and females were observed in five containers by
keeping five males and five females in each container and the experiment was
done in five containers simultaneously.
All data were presented as mean ±
SD for three years. Analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) at 95% interval (p <0.05)
was done to find the mean significance difference in T. portentosus
instars. Each test was followed by a multiple comparisons test (Tukey test)
to find the mean difference between the variables. Statistical analysis was
performed using SPSS-22 software.
Observations of burrows in the
wild
The depth of the burrows was
estimated by digging from the entrance to the bottom and measuring using a
scale. At the same time, the distance between burrows was measured from the
entrance of one burrow to the other.
RESULT
Life stages T. portentosus
Eggs: Five eggs were observed for
morphological study. Freshly laid eggs are oblong in shape, glabrous, and
yellowish-white, 3 ± 0.05 mm in length, and 36 ± 0.57 mg in weight. The weight
of eggs was recorded on day 2 (36 ± 1.04 mg), day 7 (56 ± 0.21 mg), and day 11
(66 ± 1.23 mg), and it constantly increased till the final weight on day 31
(74.8 ± 1.67 mg). While no difference in egg weight between day 1 (on laying)
and day two was observed, a significant increase in weight (p <0.05)
was noticed, and eggs became heavier prior to the hatching. There were not many
changes in the length of the eggs from the initial to the final stage. The eggs
are slightly more pointed towards one end and round towards the other end
(Image 2A). The chorion being translucent, the embryo is visible to some
extent.
On the 7th day after
oviposition, the middle part of the egg becomes bent, forming a convex plane on
one side and a concave plane on the other (Image 2B). On the 13th
day, the egg becomes slender and more bent towards the ends (Image 2C). On day
20, the eggs begin to break open, and the embryonic eyes become visible (Image
2D). The eyes, outlines of the wings, and body
appendages became distinct on day 28 (Image 2E). The forelegs, hind legs,
wings, and cerci became visible as the egg starts to break open widely (Image
2F) and subsequently hatching took place. By the 28th, 29th,
and 30th days, the eyes became more prominent, and body appendages
were faintly visible until the cracks began to occur till hatching. The final
weight and length of egg before hatching was 89.0 ± 0.13 mg and 4.89 ± 0.16 mm. The
incubation period of eggs was 33.8 ± 0.96 days. The hatching efficiency was
45.20 ± 5.28 %.
Nymphs
In T. portentosus,
seven instars were observed. The newly hatched nymph was white and
possessed a soft body until transitioning into light brown. The main
morphological changes between the instars were the development of the wing pad,
coloration, body size, body mass, ovipositor development, and an increase in
antennal length. A newly hatched instar weighed 34 ± 1.13 mg and had a body
length of 4.0 ± 0.00 mm with an 8 mm antenna and 3 mm cerci (Table 1). The
coloration of the body was grey-blackish on the abdomen, and its head region
was light brown during the first three instars. The first five instars had a
round head and abdomen with not-so-visible segments on the body (Image 3A–E).
No differences were observed during the first five instars concerning their
body color and shapes except for increased body sizes, weight, antennal length,
etc. The wing pad developed in the sixth instar (Image 3F) in both male and
female nymphs. In females, the ovipositor appeared in the seventh instar (Image
3G) while the body color was darker, and the nymphs became broader and less
rounded than the first five instars. With further development, the head, legs,
and abdomen became more turgid, and the color became dark brown. After the
final molt, the adults weighed 2100 ± 379.86 mg with length 31.7 ± 1.0 mm,
antennae 40 mm, and cerci 16 mm.
Body weight, total length,
antennae, and cerci were significantly different (p <0.05) from
instar to instar (Table 1). As shown in Figure 2, the first, second, third,
fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh instars molted on day 42, 77, 119, 147, 182,
210, and 252, respectively. During the rearing period the growth rate ranged
4.2–7 mg/day. Wide variations in growth rate were observed, where the maximum
growth rate was observed at 70–80 days (during II instar). With further
maturity, the average growth rate declines gradually. The development from the
first instar to the final molt required 298 ± 8.24 days. After the final molt,
cricket lived for another 43 ± 6.5 days. Therefore, the total number of days
required to complete the entire life cycle was found to be 341 ± 4.29 days.
Adults
Adult cricket has a cylindrical
body, long slender antennae (34–40 mm), a round head, and two long cerci (15–16
mm) and a long ovipositor (11 mm) for females. The hind leg has an enlarged
femur followed by three tarsal segments. The forewings (30 ± 1.4 mm) are smooth
in females and rough in males (Image 3H). The hind wings (41.5 ± 2.1 mm) are
longer than the fore wings and are lighter in color (Image 4A). The female body
measured about 36 ± 1.7 mm in length, and weight about 2980 ± 200 mg, while the
male measured about 37.3 ± 0.05 long (Image 4B), weight about 2940 ± 93.0 mg.
The morphological study of adults was done based on three males and three
females.
Ecology of T. portentosus
In the wild, we found cricket
burrows in grassland-type vegetation with sparse trees. Burrows were located by
searching for a heap of loose soil mounted around the entrance (Image 5A). A
heap of moist and finely-grained soil at the entrance indicates the presence of
cricket inside the burrow. Depending on the instar and texture of the soil, the
burrows can be as deep as 50–800 mm. In loose soil areas, adult burrows go as
deep as 800 mm, while in rocky soil, if less moisture and roots of trees are
present, burrows can be as shallow as 50–200 mm. The burrows do not have any
branching at any angle, but towards the bottom, they become less vertical, and
that is where crickets store their food brought from outside. The burrows are
constructed in such a way that the bottom is not exposed directly to sunlight.
At the end of the burrow, crickets were found embedded in soil with its back towards
the entrance (Image 5B). Fresh plant leaves such as Brassica oleracea (cabbage)
and A. adenophora (Mexican devil) were found
inside the burrow (Image 5C). During the spring season (March–April of each
year), in its nymphal stage, cricket burrows were found
to be located very close to one another, just 20–50 mm apart. However, in the
summer season (August–September, 2019–21), adult
burrows were never found close to each other. Single adult per burrow was
observed except during mating season, i.e., August–mid-October, when we
observed a male and a female together in one burrow. Adults begin to appear on
the ground and are attracted towards the light source at night during the month
of May, peaking from July–September, with a few still present in October. During
mating season, male crickets were observed stridulating near the burrow
entrance, (Image 6A), during the evening and night hours, to attract
females.
Adults and nymphs mostly stay
inside the burrows and are not seen much as they do not venture out during
daylight, except for food collection and mating purposes. All stages are
nocturnal, and individuals construct their burrows using the mandibles to clear
the soil, which is pushed outside the burrows using their hind legs backward
(Image 6B). During mid-August, most are in their nymphal
stage, while a few are in their adult stage.
Behavioral observation in the
laboratory showed that adults of the same gender showed more aggression towards
each other when put together for the first time. However, within 5–10 minutes,
they start constructing their burrows, which keeps them away from each other.
Aggressive behavior such as kicking, chirping, and biting one another was
observed mainly in males during mating calls and in ovipositing
females. Nymphs showed no sign of aggression towards each other. Eggs are
deposited by the female into the soil through ovipositor at the bottom of the
burrow at 750.8 ± 60 mm depth.
DISCUSSION
Due to bigger body size than most
crickets, it is one of the Nagaland’s most preferred edible insects (Mozhui et al. 2020). This is considered as one of the giant
and prominent edible cricket found in Asia, with a
body length and weight of 37.30 ± 5.0 mm and 2980 ± 200 mg. In Lao PDR, Hanboonsong & Durst (2014) reported that adult body length
of T. portentosus is 50 mm, the slight
variations in body size could be due to differences in climatic conditions,
food availability, and nutritional content of their food.
Hanboonsong & Rattanapan
(2001) reported that a single female laid about 123.00 ± 46.44 eggs, and the
incubation period of eggs was 56.10 ± 15.03 days, with 40.70 ± 4.74 % of
hatching, while the whole growth period including seven instars of nymph and
adult was 173.70 ± 19.86 days. In the present study, the incubation period of eggs
was 33.8 ± 0.96 days and showed a moderate percentage of hatching efficiency
(45.20 ± 0.28%). Lesser incubation period and more hatching efficiency than
that found in our population could be attributed to difference in climatic
conditions. Based on five observed females, the present study records that
females individually lay 98 ± 11.4 eggs throughout its reproductive life cycle.
T. portentosus is found in abandoned jhum
cultivated areas and is available for consumption from May till September. The
crickets live in burrows, where they store food and lay eggs. With the growth
and development of the nymph, its burrow goes as deep as 50–800 mm, and only a
single generation of T. portentosus is
produced per year. The use of mandibles and forelegs during the construction of
burrows recorded in this study agrees with the study on Anurogryllus
muticus (Lee & Loher
1996), which uses its forelegs to push out the soil substrates when digging
burrows. T. portentosus lives inside its
burrows and comes out primarily for food collection and mating. Usually,
collected food is taken back to the bottom of the tunnel for feeding. During
mating season, adult males come out of burrows in search of a mate and call for
partner by stridulating at the edge of their burrows. After attracting a
female, mating takes place, and the mated female remains within the burrow to
lay eggs at the bottom. The present study observed that mated females lay eggs
at the bottom of the tunnel, and similar behavior is also found in A. muticus (Lee & Loher
1996).
The burrow serves as a congenial
environment for T. portentosus, allowing
mating and providing protection against predators, rain, sun, and wind and acts
as a convenient environment for reproduction. In addition, a sealed burrow
offers protection from predators, further enhanced by increased aggression of
the females during oviposition and brood care (West & Alexander 1963;
Alexander & Otte 1967). Females of Brachytrupes achatinus
Stoll (Brachytrupinae), the ‘big-brown cricket’ of
India, deposit their eggs in shallow burrows at the end of one of their
galleries, and the young nymphs leave the parental burrow a few days after
hatching (Ghosh 1912). In the present study also, it has been observed that in
natural condition, T. portentosus nymphs leave
the original burrow to construct independent burrows of their own.
After the final molt, T. portentosus lives for another 43 ± 6.5 days; therefore,
the total number of days required to complete the entire life cycle was 341 ±
4.29 days. Hanboonsong & Rattanapan
(2001) also reported that T. portentosus completes
its life cycle in 333.30 ± 20.06 days and has 6–7 instars at 24.68 ± 1.26 °C. In the present study, seven (7)
nymphal instars were observed. The first molting took
the most extended period, which could be attributed to the colder climate and
lesser humidity (October, November, December, and January,
2019–22). The subsequent instars required lesser days for molting, which could
be due to warmer season.
Egg morphology shows that on the
seventh day after oviposition, it bent towards the middle, and by the 12th day,
eyes were visible, and the body appendages were visible on day 28. In Acheta domesticus,
also called house cricket, after four days of oviposition, as the eggs undergo
developmental changes it become slightly curved for a few days. By the 12th
day, eyes become visible; by the 16th day, just before hatching,
inner body appendages are visible (Douan et al.
2021). Present study also shows similar morphological changes in the egg, but
the number of days differed. The variation between species explains most of
this difference, although experimental conditions could also affect the
developmental time and growth of the egg (McCluney
& Date 2008; Doherty et al. 2018).
CONCLUSIONS
T. portentosus is a promising edible insect
that shows positive prospects for future food development. Compared to most
crickets, it has a larger body mass, making it more preferred as food,
especially in Asian countries. For better access to any food product,
continuous market supply is an important key that should depend on a mass
production unit. With proper knowledge of its biology and domestication, T. portentosus can be a potential insect as food in
Nagaland, India. However, further extensive study of its biology, along with
technology for mass rearing, can boost the economy and provide a livelihood for
the weaker sections of society.
Table 1. The
instars of T. portentosus with details of body
weight, body length, antennal length, and cerci length.
Instar |
Fresh body weight (mg) |
Body length (mm) |
Antennal length (mm) |
Cerci length (mm) |
1st |
34 ± 19.13a |
4.0 ± 0.00a |
8.0 ± 0.21a |
3.0 ± 0.76a |
2nd |
137 ± 90.37b |
13.3 ± 1.7b |
10 ± 0.44b |
4.0 ± 0.01 b |
3rd |
360 ± 124.34c |
16.6 ± 2.0c |
15 ± 0.19c |
6.0 ± 0.34c |
4th |
561 ± 68.00d |
21.6 ± 1.5d |
20 ± 0.32 d |
8.0 ± 0.12d |
5th |
1044 ± 434.72e |
24.0 ± 1.0e |
31 ± 1.53 e |
10.0 ± 2.00e |
6th |
1802 ± 296.02f |
31.0 ± 4.3f |
37 ± 1.41f |
12.0 ± 0.45f |
7th |
2100 ± 379.86g |
31.7 ± 1.0g |
40.0 ± 1.89g |
16.0 ± 2.90g |
Mean with different superscripts
indicates the statistically significant difference at p<0.05.
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