Nutritive value of Mopanie worms

Abstract

The use of the caterpillar of the Mopanie moth (Conimbrasia belina) as a food by the Pedi nation has been described in detail by Quin, who also recorded data on the average weight and moisture, protein and fat contents of the fresh caterpillars. However, with the exception of the recordings in 1968 pf a figure for the digestibility of the protein component of one sample of traditionally prepared, dried Mopanie caterpillars by Dreyer, no further work has been done to assess the nutritive value of this indigenous foodstuff. The Mopanie ‘worm’ has, nevertheless, made impressive gains in importance as a product for sale in recent years. According to an estimate by the SA Bureau of Standards, annual sales through agricultural cooperative markets now amount to about 40 000 bags, each bag containing 40 Kg of traditionally prepared, dried caterpillars. Furthermore, a considerable degree of sophistication has been introduced into the market by the recent establishment of Mopanie worm cannery at Peitersburg, Northern Transvaal.