Can we farm aquatic insects for human food or livestock feed?

Abstract

Six of the 12 living orders of aquatic insects contain species engaged in entomophagy, but few are being harvested effectively, leading to overexploitation and local extinction. Existing practices range from including insects (e.g. dipterans) in the core diets of many indigenous peoples to consumption of selected insects as novelty food (e.g. caddisflies). Comparison of nutritional worth of aquatic insects to the human diet and to domestic animal feed are examined. Questions are raised as to whether natural populations of aquatic insects can yield sufficient biomass to be of practicable and sustained use, whether some species can be brought into high-yield cultivation, and what are the requirements and limitations involved in achieving this?

Edible Aquatic Insects: Diversities, Nutrition, and Safety

“…Edible insect farming has already taken off all around the world. The farming technology of some terrestrial insect food or feed species, such as mealworm, black soldier flies, crickets, and houseflies, has largely advanced, and their yields are very high and sustainable nowadays [ 21 ]. However, there is little information about rearing aquatic insects, especially edible aquatic insects.…”

“…The relevant biology, natural habitats, and comparisons of aquatic insect orders have been well summarized by D. Dudley Williams and Siân S. Williams [ 19 ]. Six of the 12 orders of aquatic insects are likely to contain candidate species for food and feed [ 19 , 21 , 22 ]. They are Coleoptera (beetles), Diptera (true flies), Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Hemiptera (true bugs), Odonata (dragonflies/damselflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies).…”

Insects as food and medicine: a sustainable solution for global health and environmental challenges

“…Edible insect farming has the potential to benefit humanity and the environment; however, farming should be critically reviewed so as not to damage the environment. Farmed insects are numerous, and the order with the highest number of edible insects belongs to Coleoptera ( 127 ). There are currently twelve living orders of aquatic insects, six of which are considered edible.…”

“…There are currently twelve living orders of aquatic insects, six of which are considered edible. Unfortunately, these insects are not being harvested sustainably and are exposed to overexploitation and extinction ( 127 ). Dragonflies, for example, are edible aquatic insects, and their over-exploitation and extinction can affect the environment due to an ecosystem balance.…”

Edible dragonflies and damselflies (order Odonata) as human food – A comprehensive review

“…In Africa, the tropical weather and the existence of rural settlements where there are sufficient resources for rearing insects makes it relatively easy to do so. However, in Europe, where warm weather may last for less than half of the year, the process of rearing as well as the production costs may be high (Williams et al, 2021) Several methods of rearing insects in the order Odonata have been described and implemented but these methods require a lot of resources and time in order to be effective (Locklin et al, 2012). Several apparatus are also used in the collection and rearing process (Tennessen, 2019).…”