Nutrient composition of Macrotermes species consumed in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The edible Macrotermes termite species play an important role in food security and livelihoods of many rural families in communities in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. This study was undertaken to determine the nutritional composition of soldier castes of the two most commonly consumed Macrotermes species in the district; Macrotermes falciger and Macrotermes natalensis. Proximate composition showed that crude protein content of M. falciger was higher (19.3%) than those of M. natalensis (14.4%). For M. natalensis, the highest mineral element was potassium (1,102 mg/100 g) followed by iron (992 mg/100 g), while for both species, the least common mineral was nickel (1.02 mg/100 g). The termites were high in dry matter and the energy content was significantly higher (P<0.001) in M. falciger than M. natalensis. This study revealed that M. falciger and M. natalensis have high nutritional qualities that could contribute to improvements in human health. However, M. falciger is the preferred species possibly due to the larger size of the soldier caste and higher nutritional value.