Researchers at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe) in Nairobi have identified a new cricket species with potential value as human food and as an alternative protein ingredient. The announcement was made on 22 November 2018, after the insect was collected and reared for experimental work at the centre’s campus.
The species has been named Scapsipedus Icipe. Its discovery was reported in a paper published in the Zootaxa Journal.
Icipe said the finding adds to Kenya’s already established insect-eating culture. In the same journal, the centre noted that beetles, caterpillars, bees, wasps, ants, grasshoppers and locusts are already part of diets in many parts of the country.
According to Icipe scientist Tanga Mbi, who discovered the insect during his post-doctoral research, the cricket had long been farmed but was being confused with another species, Acheta Domesticus. He said its scientific identity had not been properly documented until now.
Dr Mbi said Icipe has spent the past three years studying the farming potential of edible insects as a source of nutritious food. The centre now wants to determine the best rearing conditions for Scapsipedus Icipe under different temperatures.
The cricket is commonly found around buildings and fields. Icipe said it can be recognised by a yellow band between the eyes, while males also have a distinctive call and territorial behaviour that separates the species from others in the Scapsipedus genus.
The centre said it will continue research on the insect’s nutritional quality and safety before it is considered for wider food and feed initiatives in Kenya.
