Proximate Composition, Micronutrient Profile, and Molecular Identification of Bacterial Isolates in Acheta domesticus and Zonocerus variegatus

This study compares the nutritional and microbiological profiles of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) and grasshoppers (Zonocerus variegatus) in Sokoto, Nigeria, highlighting their micronutrient composition, protein potential, and bacterial associations to inform sustainable food systems and food-safety assessment.

K. A. Shagari & F. Salihu

10/10/20261 min read

ABSTRACT

Entomophagy is increasingly recognized as a sustainable strategy for addressing global protein insecurity, yet the nutritional and microbiological profiles of many edible insects remain poorly characterized. This study evaluated the proximate composition, vitamin and mineral content, and bacterial associations of two edible insects, Acheta domesticus (house cricket) and Zonocerus variegatus (grasshopper), sourced from farmlands in Sokoto, Nigeria. Proximate analysis showed crickets had higher carbohydrate (70.27%), moisture, and fibre content, while grasshoppers contained more lipid (13.87%), crude protein (18.6%), and ash. Crickets were richer in vitamin C and potassium, whereas grasshoppers had higher vitamin E and calcium. Bacterial isolates recovered from both insects, identified via 16S rDNA sequencing, included Bacillus alcalophilus, Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus, Paenibacillus species, Bacillus fumarioli, and Pseudoxanthomonas spp., genera that are predominantly environmental and not established as major foodborne pathogens within the scope of this analysis. These findings confirm that A. domesticus and Z. variegatus are nutritionally valuable, supporting their potential as sustainable, affordable protein sources for addressing malnutrition in Nigeria.

Keywords: proximate composition, micronutrient, molecular identification, food safety

HOW TO CITE

Shagari, K. A., & Salihu, F. (2026). Proximate composition, micronutrient profile, and molecular identification of bacterial isolates in Acheta domesticus and Zonocerus variegatus. Nexus Inventio: Journal of Science, Innovation and Education, 1(1), 32–41.

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