Published August 6, 2022
| Version v1
Journal article
Open
Achaea catocaloides: a pest or a protein-rich food to be promoted throughout Africa?
Authors/Creators
- 1. Retired Salvation Army officer. Blairgowrie, UK.
- 2. Laboratoire de Nutrition et Alimentation Humaine
- 3. Biologist, Research Institute in Health Sciences (I.R.S.S.), Kinshasa, D.R. Congo
- 4. Laboratoire d'entomologie appliquée et fonctionnelle, Institut facultaire des sciences agronomiques de Yangambi, B.P.1232 Kisangani, R.D. Congo
Description
Achaea catocaloides (Guenée, 1852) (Erebidae), the African apple tree moth, is a migratory species and larvae can appear in very large numbers and cause serious damage to cocoa, coffee, citrus, plantain and mango crops. However, in the Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, the larvae are considered an important and highly nutritious food. Publicizing the consumption of this caterpillar wherever it swarms in Africa would constitute both an effective means of reducing the damage to important crops and provide an excellent source of food for humans.