DOI: 10.5061/dryad.b2rbnzsqv
title: Weeds and agro by-products for sustainable farming of edible field cricket, Gryllus madagascarensis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

description: Gryllus madagascarensis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is a cricket species that
 shows promise to mitigate food insecurity and malnutrition. But whether
 this species will accept low- to no-cost weeds and agro by-products as
 feed, and how these feeds affect its performance, remains unknown. This
 study assessed the acceptability of 66 weed species and agro by-products
 (derived from a single plant species) by adult G. madagascarensis and
 compared the results to a reference feed (chicken feed). We further
 examined how the 11 top acceptable single plant products affected growth
 parameters of G. madagascarensis. The parameters assessed included
 development, survivorship, body mass and body length and reproductive
 fitness of the crickets on each of these diets. Finally, the costs of the
 11 top accepted single plant products were compared. Our results
 demonstrated that the cricket accepted all 66 single plant products at
 varying degrees. Tropical white morning glory (Ipomoea alba), cassava tops
 (Manhot esculentum), taro leaves (Colocasia esculenta), cowpea bran (Vigna
 unguiculata), American hog-peanut (Afroamphica africana), gallant soldier
 (Galinsoga parviflora), wheat bran (Triticum aestivum), glycine
 (Neonotonia wightii), silver leaf Desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum), maize
 bran (Zea mays) and rice bran (Oryza sativa) were the most accepted. The
 analysed nutrient content varied across the top 11 accepted single plant
 products and the reference feed. The shortest development and highest
 survival rate were recorded with gallant soldier and cowpea bran powders.
 Wet body mass and body length were highly impacted by various single plant
 products tested compared to the reference feed. Reproductive parameters
 were significantly briefer on tropical white morning glory compared to
 other feeds and the reference diet. Single plant products cost two- to
 four-fold less than reference feed. The findings are valuable for
 developing blended diets that balance performance, cost and availability
 for household and commercial production of crickets as a “green”
 technology for producing edible sources of protein.
description: # Weeds and agro by-products for sustainable farming of edible field
 cricket, Gryllus madagascarensis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) Authors: Henlay
 J.O. Magara*, Cédrique L. Solofondranohatra, Sylvain Hugel, Brian L.
 Fisher Supporting coded data ## Description of the data and file structure
 Files included are: 1. Male and female acceptability data: shows the
 amount of each 66 single plant products and reference diet consumed by
 individual male and female crickets. 2. Developmental time folder: show
 the time taken by one-day-old individual nymphs to reach adult stage when
 fed 11 most accepted single plant products and the reference diet. 3. Body
 mass data folder: Show the weight of adult male and female crickets fed 11
 most accepted single plant products and the reference diet. 4. Body length
 data folder:Indicate the size of adult and female crickets fed 11 most
 accepted single plant products and the reference diet. 5. Survival rate
 data: demonstrate the number of crickets that reached adult stage after
 being fed on 11 most accepted single plant products and the reference
 diet. 6. Fecundity vs body length and mass data: Show the correlation
 between egg laying and body length and mass of the crickets fed on 11 most
 accepted single plant products and the reference diet. 7. Oviposition
 parameters data: Show preoviposition period, fecundity and egg
 hatchability in crickets fed different diets 8. Egg incubation period
 data: Show how each single plant product and reference diet influenced the
 time taken for eggs to hatch. 9. FCR and ADG folder: Indicates Feed
 conversion ratio, mean daily intake. average daily gain (ADG) and body
 weight gain of crickets fed on different single plant products and the
 reference diet. NA: Not applicable