Situation and perspective of entomophagy in Kinshasa

Eating edible insects in Republic Democratic of Congo is a tradition for centuries but a lack of knowledge remains about an actualized inventory of species consumed in the country. Moreover, a rigorous taxonomic matching of the used vernacular name of edible insects and a precise characterization of the sector of entomophagy are still needed. According to our studies focused on the city of Kinshasa, 14 edible species were inventoried as regularly consumed. They belong respectively and by degree of importance to the Lepidoptera (46.7%), Isoptera (18.6%), Orthoptera (17.6%), Coleoptera (9.7%) and Hymenoptera (3.7%) orders. Generally 80.0% of the Kinshasa population consumes at least one species of insects 5 days per month. The key peoples in the edible insect sector are mostly women. The incomes generated by this activity contribute to the well being of households, to reduce poverty and food insecurity in the capital Kinshasa. Future studies should focus on sustainable ways of harvesting wild populations, the use of improved conservation practices, the enhancement of cottage industries for farming insects and the development of economically feasible ways of mass-rearing edible species.