Palm weevils

 

 

Scientific name

Rhynchophorus phoenicis ou Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

 

Where can you find this insect ?

We met this insect on the Borneo island in Malaysia, but as well in Vietnam, Ghana and Amazonia forest. It is the most consumed insect in the world.

 

Common names:

• Palm weevil/ palm worm: English
• Mority: Brazil
• Morete: Ecuador
• Moriche, mojojoy, chomiya, canangucho: Colombia
• Aguashi: Peru
• Sago worm: Indonesia/Malaysia

 

Breeding

Palm weevil larvae feed on palm trees trunks thereby causing the tree’s dead.  The larvae are harvested by making a hole in the palm tree with a cutlass, but it is also possible to breed them. When mature, larvae turn into pupae and hide themselves inside a cocoon made from palm fibers. Then pupae turn into beetles. After mating, females lay eggs and new palm weevils hatch from the eggs (see on the picture, two adults mating). For more information concerning palm weevil breeding, please contact us.

 

 

 

 

Taste and texture

Palm weevils can be cooked following various recipes. We have tried them in an Asian style sauce, and even alive! Their taste really makes us think of meat and the texture is like the one of cooked mushrooms. This insect is the best one we have tried (together with the ant eggs and the Colombian ants)!

 

Nutritional composition 

Nutritional composition of palm weevils
	Fresh larvae	Dired larvae
Moisture	62 %	–
Proteins	8 %	21 %
Lipids	25 %	67 %
Carbohydrates	3 %	8 %
Minerals	2 %	5,5 %
Energy	685 kcal/100g	714 kcal/100g

 

Source: Hilaire Macaire Womeni et al. Nutritional value and effect of cooking,drying and storage process on some functional properties of Rhynchophorus phoenicis. International Journal of Life Science & Pharma Research, Vol 2/Issue 3/Jul-Sept 2012.

 

If you are interested in a more detailed analysis, feel free to contact us.