Nutritional content of Liometopum apiculatum Mayr larvae ("escamoles:) by vegetation type in north-central Mexico
2018
Jose Domingo Cruz-Labanaa, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillo, Estado de Mexico, Mecixo | Maria Magdalena Crosby-Galvana, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillo, Estado de Mexico, Mecixo | Adriana Delgado-Alvarado, Posgrado en Estrategias para el Desarrollo Agricola Regional, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Puebla, Puebla, Mexico | Jose Luis Alcantara-Carbajal, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillo, Estado de Mexico, Mecixo | Juan Manuel Cuca-Garciaa, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillo, Estado de Mexico, Mecixo | Luis Antonio Tarango-Arambulab, Posgrado de Innovacion en Manejo de Recursos Naturales,ColegiodePostgraduadosCampusSanLuisPotos'
In Mexico the ant Liometopum apiculatum is an important insect nutritionally, economically and ecologically. Their larvae ("escamoles") contain proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals, the concentrations of which may be related with the type of vegetation where the ant forages. The objective of this study was to evaluate the content of macro and micro nutrients of L. apiculatum larvae collected in three types of vegetation in north-central Mexico. We determined content of moisture, crude protein, total lipids, crude fiber, ash, and nitrogen-free extract. The amino acids were analyzed by cationic Exchange chromatography with acid hydrolysis and fatty acids by gas chromatography and solvent extraction with sodium methoxide. The effect of vegetation type on nutrient content was determined with an ANOVA and Sheffe comparison of means (P less than .05). The concentration of amino acids and fatty acids (FA) was analyzed with a Kruskall-Wallis test (P less than .05). Significant differences were found in protein, lipids and ash (P less than .0001) and moisture content (P less than .0036). We identified 17 amino acids, which concentration differed by type of vegetation. There were no significant differences in fatty acids. It is likely that the differences in the concentrations of macronutrients are due to the diversity and differential density of the food components available in each type of vegetation for L. apiculatum, and that the number of types and quantity of amino acids and fatty acids depend on the chemical properties of the liquid secretions the ants obtain by trophobiosis.
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