A crispy delicacy: Augosoma Beetle as alternative source of protein in East Cameroon

Despite the fact that the exoskeleton of the Augosoma centaurus (Dynastinae) is hard and difficult to chew, this insect is often gathered in Eastern Cameroon for food in periods of availability. Nine ethnic groups in Eastern Cameroon were surveyed to understand the role of this insect in assuring fo...

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Main Authors: Muafor, F.J., Levang, P., Le Gall, P.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Hindawi Limited 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/94963
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author Muafor, F.J.
Levang, P.
Le Gall, P.
author_browse Le Gall, P.
Levang, P.
Muafor, F.J.
author_facet Muafor, F.J.
Levang, P.
Le Gall, P.
author_sort Muafor, F.J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Despite the fact that the exoskeleton of the Augosoma centaurus (Dynastinae) is hard and difficult to chew, this insect is often gathered in Eastern Cameroon for food in periods of availability. Nine ethnic groups in Eastern Cameroon were surveyed to understand the role of this insect in assuring food security, using quantitative and qualitative social science approaches. Both the larvae and adult stages of this beetle are habitually consumed in the areas studied. In total, about 65% of consumers prefer consuming the adults, while 35% prefer consuming the larvae. About 24% of consumers derive the same satisfaction from the consumption of Augosoma or other edible insects. Close to 39% of consumers prefer other edible insects to Augosoma, while 37% prefer the consumption of Augosoma to other edible insects. This beetle usually occurs at a period when other edible insects are not available, therefore constituting a good source of alternative protein in this region where poverty, poaching, and biodiversity erosion are still a major problem. Furthermore, the gathering of this beetle for food is equally a means of biological pest control of raffia plants and a tool to enhance community-based conservation of the areas global biodiversity.
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spelling CGSpace949632025-06-17T08:24:05Z A crispy delicacy: Augosoma Beetle as alternative source of protein in East Cameroon Muafor, F.J. Levang, P. Le Gall, P. conservation diet food security game meat Despite the fact that the exoskeleton of the Augosoma centaurus (Dynastinae) is hard and difficult to chew, this insect is often gathered in Eastern Cameroon for food in periods of availability. Nine ethnic groups in Eastern Cameroon were surveyed to understand the role of this insect in assuring food security, using quantitative and qualitative social science approaches. Both the larvae and adult stages of this beetle are habitually consumed in the areas studied. In total, about 65% of consumers prefer consuming the adults, while 35% prefer consuming the larvae. About 24% of consumers derive the same satisfaction from the consumption of Augosoma or other edible insects. Close to 39% of consumers prefer other edible insects to Augosoma, while 37% prefer the consumption of Augosoma to other edible insects. This beetle usually occurs at a period when other edible insects are not available, therefore constituting a good source of alternative protein in this region where poverty, poaching, and biodiversity erosion are still a major problem. Furthermore, the gathering of this beetle for food is equally a means of biological pest control of raffia plants and a tool to enhance community-based conservation of the areas global biodiversity. 2014-01-28 2018-07-03T11:02:09Z 2018-07-03T11:02:09Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/94963 en Open Access Hindawi Limited Muafor, F.J., Levang, P., Le Gall, P. . 2014. A crispy delicacy : Augosoma Beetle as alternative source of protein in East Cameroon. International Journal of Biodiversity, 2014 : 214071, 7p.. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/214071
spellingShingle conservation
diet
food security
game meat
Muafor, F.J.
Levang, P.
Le Gall, P.
A crispy delicacy: Augosoma Beetle as alternative source of protein in East Cameroon
title A crispy delicacy: Augosoma Beetle as alternative source of protein in East Cameroon
title_full A crispy delicacy: Augosoma Beetle as alternative source of protein in East Cameroon
title_fullStr A crispy delicacy: Augosoma Beetle as alternative source of protein in East Cameroon
title_full_unstemmed A crispy delicacy: Augosoma Beetle as alternative source of protein in East Cameroon
title_short A crispy delicacy: Augosoma Beetle as alternative source of protein in East Cameroon
title_sort crispy delicacy augosoma beetle as alternative source of protein in east cameroon
topic conservation
diet
food security
game meat
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/94963
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