The phospholipid, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as, the
fatty acid profile of the caterpillar of Cirina forda , a
pallid emperor moth, known for its popularity as a food insect in
Nigeria, were elucidated and compared with other popular sources of
lipids. C. forda had 554.96mg/100g, 201.01mg/100g and 244.03mg/100g of
phospholipid, cholesterol and triglyceride, respectively. It proved to
be a rich source of unsaturates, surpassing other popular lipid sources
as a source of polyunsaturates. It is rich in fatty acids such as
Linolenic acid (33.84%), Linoleic acid (7.81%) and Oleic acid (12.93%).
The possible nutritional implications of the consumption of C. forda
caterpillar on the human nervous system are highlighted
