Growth Performance of Acheta domesticus and Gryllus bimaculatus Crickets fed on different Agro-byproducts
Orinda M.A., Amimo F.A., Mosi R.O. & Ayieko M.A.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science & Technology
PRELIMINARY RESULTS
RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Graph 2 : A. domesticus
Graph 1: G. bimaculatus
25
 All the four diets showed a positive trend in weight for both
50
species. however, the rate of weight gain in G. bimaculatus
45
was seemingly higher compared to the case of weight gain in
20
35
Spent yeast+rice
bran
Spent grain+rice
bran
Bloodmeal+rice
bran
Grower's mash
30
25
20
WEIGHT (g)
40
WEIGHT (g)
INTRODUCTION
Cricket feeding is a major determinant of the productivity
of caged crickets. Insects reared on different diets differ
in growth, maturity period and genetic make up which is
attributed to feed quality. Crickets fed on a high protein
diet take a shorter period to maturity compared to those
on a low protein diet. However, high protein diets are
generally expensive, especially for the small scale cricket
producers. This study seeks to identify and evaluate
locally available, nutritious and less costly feeds which
can be used productively in mass-rearing.
Spent yeast+rice
bran
Spent grain+rice
bran
Bloodmeal+rice
bran
Grower's mash
15
10
A. domesticus. This could be attributed to the fact that G.
bimaculatus is a voracious eater. Further,
the weight
measurement of A. domesticus were taken 3 weeks later due
to their seemingly slow growth.
15
OBJECTIVE
To compare growth performance of Acheta domesticus
and Gryllus bimaculatus fed on different agro-byproducts.
 Sex
10
difference
was
notified
by
the
fifth
week
on
5
G.bimaculatus fed on grower’s mash, rice bran + spent grain,
5
rice bran + spent yeast and later sixth week on those fed on
0
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
W7
W8
W9
W10
W11
0
W2
W3
TIME(weeks)
W4
W5
W6
W7
W8
rice bran + bloodmeal.
TIME (Weeks)
Fig.2: Graphs showing growth performance of G. bimaculatus and A. domesticus
 Sex difference was notified by the ninth week
on
A.domesticus fed on grower’s mash and rice bran+ spent
PGraph4:PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE
G.bimaculatus
Graph 3:PERFORMANCE OF MALE G.bimaculatus
18
yeast, tenth week on those fed on rice bran + bloodmeal and
25
16
14
rice bran + spent grain.
20
 Adult emergence was observed by the seventh week on G.
Spent yeast+rice bran
10
Spent grain+rice bran
Bloodmeal+rice bran
8
Weight(g)
12
Weight (g)
METHODOLOGY
Eight batches of 200 14 day-old crickets of A. domesticus
and G. bimaculatus were isolated from the mass rearing
colony and placed in eight different plastic buckets of a
100L capacity measuring 100cm (H) by 60 cm (D) . The
buckets were placed on shelves in a tunnel measuring 8M
by 15M and enclosed with insect netting and polythene
material.
Each of the species were fed on four different types of
feeds: Diet A: Grower’s mash (control), 100g, Diet B: Rice
bran+Bloodmeal, 95g:5g, Diet C: Rice bran+ Spent yeast ,
87.5g: 12.5g & Diet D: Rice bran+ Spent grain, 69g:31g.
W1
15
Spent yeast+rice bran
Spent grain+rice bran
10
Grower's mash
bimaculatus fed on grower’s mash, eighth week on those fed
Bloodmeal+rice bran
6
5
4
Grower's mash
2
0
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
0
Males(20)
W1
W2
W3
W4
on rice bran+ bloodmeal and rice bran + spent yeast and ninth
week on those fed on rice bran+ spent grain.
W5
Adult emergence was observed by the eleventh week on
TIME(weeks)
TIME(weeks)
Fig.3: Graphs showing growth performance of male and female G. bimaculatus
A. domesticus fed on grower’s mash and rice bran + spent
yeast.
 G. Bimaculatus reached maturity at 8 weeks on grower’s
 Preliminary results showed a steady increment in weight signifying growth across the
board for all the four diets. However, the control maintained a lightly higher
performance.
 G. bimaculatus indicated a faster rate of weight gain (Graph 1&2).
 Female G. bimaculatus demonstrated better performance in terms of weight gain than
males across all the four diets (Graph 3&4).
Larva
Fig.1: Plastic bucket units
Samples of 50 crickets, from each bucket
of G.
bimaculatus, were randomly selected and weighed from
the third week and for A.domesticus the weighing started
after a month.
mash, 9 weeks on rice bran + spent yeast and rice bran +
blood meal, 11 weeks on rice bran + spent grain. For diets B
and C, G. bimaculatus reached maturity at the same time but
attained different weights.
CONCLUSION
 All the agro-byproducts have shown potential to be used as cricket feed.
 Whereas the two species seem to have the same preference for grower’s mash and spent yeast, they have different preference for spent grain and
bloodmeal.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Authors wish to thank GREEiNSECT Project & Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science & Technology for financial support and valuable information