ABSTRACT
RESUMEN Para el año 2050 se espera un aumento del 60% al 70% en el consumo de productos de origen animal. Este aumento en el consumo demandará enormes recursos, siendo las fuentes tradicionales de proteína las más costosas, sobreexplotadas y perjudiciales para el ambiente. Explorar nuevas fuentes de proteína animal se convierte en una necesidad para el sector agropecuario. Es por esta razón que la FAO (2009) incluyó el uso de insectos en la alimentación humana y animal como una fuente alternativa de nutrientes desde el 2003 debido a sus características nutricionales y a su bajo impacto ambiental. Una de las especies más promisorias es el grillo doméstico tropical (Gryllodes sigillatus), cuyo potencial como sistema productivo sostenible ha sido demostrado en varios países asiáticos como europeos. El propósito de este artículo es presentar los aspectos asociados al aprovechamiento y producción de la especie G. sigillatus que pueden hacerla sostenible como alimento en Colombia, dando cuenta de las características generales y nutricionales de la especie y las ventajas socioeconómicas y ambientales de la cría de estos grillos y de los insectos en general. Se establece que, aunque existen emprendimientos en el país, es importante continuar con la investigación sobre esta especie en términos de producción a gran escala, así como en términos nutricionales para potenciar el sector económico y mejorar las condiciones materiales de agricultores en el país.
ABSTRACT Global agriculture production must increase by about 60-70 percent from the current levels to meet the increased food demand in 2050, which will demand enormous resources, with traditional protein sources being the most expensive, overexploited, and environmentally damaging. New alternative protein sources are a necessity for the agricultural sector. Since 2003, FAO (2009) has included insects as feed and food as an alternative protein source because they are nutritious and environmentally sustainable. One of the most promising species is the tropical house cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus), whose potential as a sustainable production system has been demonstrated in several Asian and European countries. This article presents the aspects associated with using and producing the G. sigillatus that can make it sustainable as food in Colombia, accounting for the general and nutritional features of this species and the socioeconomic and environmental advantages of raising these crickets, and insects in general. It was established that, even though there are entrepreneurships in the country, research on this species needs to continue, both in terms of its large-scale production and of its nutritional qualities, to strengthen the economic sector and to improve the material conditions of farmers.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , ColombiaABSTRACT
Respiration and energy metabolism are key processes in animals, which are severely constrained by the design of physical structures, such as respiratory structures. Insects have very particular respiratory systems, based on gas diffusion across tracheae. Since the efficiency of the tracheal respiratory system is highly dependent on body shape, the pattern of morphological variation during ontogeny could have important metabolic consequences. We studied this problem combining through-flow respirometry and geometric morphometrics in 88 nymphs of the sand cricket, Gryllus firmus. After measuring production in each individual, we took digital photographs and defined eight landmarks for geometric morphometric analysis. The analysis suggested that ontogenic deformations were mostly related to enlargement of the abdomen, compared to thorax and head. We found that (controlling for body size) metabolic variables and especially resting metabolism are positively correlated with a shape-component associated to an elongation of the abdomen. Our results are in agreement with the mechanics of tracheal ventilation in orthopterans, as gas circulation occurs by changes in abdominal pressures due to abdominal contractions and expansions along the longitudinal axis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Energy Metabolism/physiology , Gryllidae/anatomy & histology , Gryllidae/metabolism , Respiratory Physiological Phenomena , Calorimetry, Indirect , Gryllidae/growth & development , Nymph/anatomy & histology , Nymph/growth & development , Nymph/metabolismABSTRACT
We describe here two new species of the genus Phalangopsis Serville, 1831 from the Brazilian Amazon Forest. The male genitalia and the female copulatory papilla were described, and a combination of diagnostic characteristics was given to separate both new species from the other described species. The principal morphological characteristics of this genus were discussed.
Aqui foram descritas duas espécies novas do gênero Phalangopsis Serville, 1831 da Floresta Amazônica brasileira. A genitália masculina e a papila copulatória feminina são descritas, bem como uma combinação de características diagnósticas para separar ambas as novas espécies das outras espécies descritas. As principais características morfológicas foram discutidas.