Larvae and pupae of Alphitobius diaperinus as promising protein alternatives

Insects are one of the most promising alternatives that can ease the expected global shortage of proteins. Determination of the nutritional value of edible insects in various instars is, therefore, crucial. Herein, we determined the content of basic nutrients and amino acid profile of larvae and pupae of Alphitobius diaperinus. The pupae contained significantly more protein and less fat than larvae. Unlike the protein quantity, no significant differences were found in the profile of essential amino acids. The essential amino acid index, describing the quality of protein, was similar regardless of the instar and comparable to the index for other insects and soybean meal. Additionally, we provide the first note on chitin content in A. diaperinus, present at a very low level in the pupae. The harvest of A. diaperinus in the pupal stage may provide high quality insect protein with a low chitin level.