Abstract

VARGAS, Gabriel E.; ESPINOZA, Giovana; RUIZ, Candy  and  ROJAS, Rosario. Nutritional value of Rhynchophorus palmarum L. larvae: a traditional food from the peruvian amazon. Rev. Soc. Quím. Perú [online]. 2013, vol.79, n.1, pp.64-70. ISSN 1810-634X.

The larvae of the palm beetle Rhynchophorus palmarum L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is known as "suri" in the Peruvian Amazon. The larvae, either raw or fried in its own oil, are an important food source for several groups of Amazon natives. The larvae are very appreciated by its taste and can be found in several local markets. On spite of its relevance on human food, little is known on the proximate composition of the palm beetle larvae consumed in Amazonian Peru. In the present article, we report the fatty acids profile from the oils separately obtained from the skin and digestive fat of the larvae as well as the proximate analysis of the skin and aminoacid profile of the insect protein. The high total protein content of the skin (45.82% on a dry weight basis), the oil content in the digestive fat and the aminoacid composition of the protein suggest that suri is a good source of nutrients, low usable responsible consumption.

Keywords : Nutritional value; Rhynchophorus palmarum; Peruvian Amazon; suri.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )