ABSTRACT
The current challenge of food security has called for exploitation of natural product, with potential nutritional and therapeutic characteristic, especially from less tapped agent. Cirina forda belongs to the Order Lepidoptera, family satuniidae, it’s an insect that has been well described with good source of protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. Their non existence in the places of natural occurrence remained a reason of concerned to the populace that enjoys them in their dishes. This growth response study was designed to determine and evaluate the effects of different Vitellaria paradoxa leaves diet on laboratory reared C. forda.  The study was carried out in Animal Biology Laboratory, Federal University of Technology Minna, Matured eggs of C. forda were collected from host plant where they naturally occur in lanle village, Bida, Niger State. The host plant leaves were  collected for feeding the control group of the study which was tag as group A, Another set of four different host plants from different locations in Minna metropolis were collected and tagged as group B, C, D, and E for the laboratory rearing. The collected leaves were used to rear the larval stage of C. forda under standard laboratory condition. Morphometric characteristic, nutritional composition as well as biochemical characteristics of the reared C. forda was determined and recorded. Head capsule width range= (5.07-8.40 mm), Body length range= (36.99-64.50 mm), Body width range= (5.23-11.88 mm). All the leaves of the V. paradoxa shows high amount of phenol, saponnin and flavonoid. Protein content was highest in C. forda group A, (23.39 mg/100g), and the least in group D (16.66 mg/100g) carbohydrate was highest in Cirina forda group C (66.60 mg/100g) and the lowest in group A (58.71 mg/100g). Fat content was highest in group A (5.46 mg/100g) and lowest in group D (3.63 mg/100g). Vitamin composition was dominated by vitamin C. Vitamin C was higher in group D (56.11 mg/100g) and the lowest in group E (71.23 mg/100g) follow by vitamin A which was highest in group D (17.91 mg/100g) and lowest in group C (13.68 mg/100g). Mineral composition was dominated by sodium (Na) potassium (K) magnesium (Mg) and copper (Cu). Group E recorded highest Mg content (138.07 mg/100g) while group D (117.00 mg/100g) recorded the lowest. Copper was also highest in E (7.30 mg/100g) while the lowest in group C (5.92 mg/100g). Finding from this study thus indicated that the life cycle of C. forda strictly depended on the leave diet of V. paradoxa. The insect Cirina forda survived best in the naturally host plant Vitellaria paradoxa
CHAPTER ONE
1.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Cirina forda, the pallid emperor moth or shea defoliator, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. The species was first described by John O. Westwood in 1849. It is found in western Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa, (Latham, 2003). The adults are pale creamy-brown with a small darker spot on each hind wing but lacking true eye-spots, its larvae resemble silk worm caterpillars except that they do not spin cocoons (Osasona and Olaofe, 2010). In Nigeria and Ghana, the larvae feed on Vitellaria paradoxa, and cause heavy defoliation, In Bas-Congo province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, they feed on Crossopteryx febrifuga. While in South Africa, the favoured food plant is the Burkea africana (Latham, 2003).
The larvae have different native names such as kanni or monimoni in yoruba language, Nupe called it pantoro or manimani, other native name include susan kadanya, abubu, kulamya fuma and egwo. Cirina forda is a holometabolous insect and the larvae as the only feeding stage (Ande, 1991). Cirina forda is indigenous to the middle belt which includes Niger, Kogi, Osun, and Oyo state, and they occur naturally where they are found.
Cirina forda life cycle is a complete metamorphosis with larvae, pupa and adult. The edible stage (larvae) have five instars, the first and the second instars feed gregariously while the third to fifth instars feeds solitarily (Ande and Fasoranti, 1995). C. forda egg hatches after an incubation period of 30 to 34 days into an active and voraciously-feeding larva, and passes through 5 to 6 instars in 42 to 50 days between June and August. Although, the annual period of availability of C. forda vary with geographical area, but climatic condition for their development remain the same with temperature ranging from 22-270c relative humidity around  80  to  100%  and  little  sunshine  (Ande  and  Fasoranti,  1997).  These conditions are signal for the beginning of each rainy season and larvae appear one or two month later (Ande and Fasoranti, 1996).
Cirina forda is univoltine in Nigeria and, the active periods occur during the wet months of May and August. The life cycle of C. forda is tightly linked to the biology of its host, Vitellaria paradoxa, the only savannah species of the family Sapotaceae in Nigeria, V. paradoxa blossoms fully between May and August when mature fruits become available, and sheds leaves between November and February (Keay et al., 1964). The former that is May and August coincides with period of maximum population outburst of C. forda while pupation takes place during the dry months of November and April.
Cirina forda (Westwood) larva is widely marketed, cheap, and commonly consumed in Southwestern Nigeria (Oladele, 2013). The larvae of this insect are good source of protein for human and livestock consumption and income (Fasoranti and Ajiboye, 1993). Cirina forda larvae have the potential to provide substantial amount of protein, mineral and polyunsaturated fatty acids to the diets which are usually deficient in animal protein (Akinnawo and Ketiku, 2000).
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem
Vitellaria paradoxa is an indigenous plant of the savannah belt of western Africa and Nigeria in particular (Latham, 2003). Cirina forda in Nigeria has become restricted to the northern dry wood savannah ecosystem, principally due to variation in the nutritional quality of the leaves diet, and this is directly related to foliage age and geographical location of the host Vitellaria paradoxa (Odebiyi et al., 2003; Odebiyi et al., 2009). Vitellaria paradoxa is common in Niger state but despite the availability Cirina forda is found in limited locality. About 15 years ago Cirina forda do occur naturally on host plant Vitellaria paradoxa in Wuya Kanti and environs, but investigation of occurrence now showed that they no longer exist in these areas. Many authors have reported anthropogenic activities, predators and ant as the reason responsible for their non-existence in their place of natural occurrence, but little effort has been made to unravel the effects leaves of different V. paradoxa on the growth and biochemical composition on migration of C. forda population in Niger state. This work will attempt to investigate the influence of how leaves of different Vitellaria paradoxa nutrients will affect population distribution, growth and biochemical composition of Cirina forda.
1.3 Justification for the Study
Cirina forda larvae are source of protein and food supplement of the diet of many Nigerians (Ande, 1991). It has potentials for correcting malnutrition and diet related issues in children and aged. (Ande, 2003). Cirina forda is also sold raw, dried and processed as a source of income to the locality where they naturally occurs, but their non existence in the known geographical location where they naturally occurs in the past has become a reason for concerned. Unraveling the biochemical composition of the host plant (Vitellaria paradoxa) and the possible preferred leaves will encourage and boost artificial mass rearing of Cirina forda to meet its demand. This may also explain the reason for their non-existence in some areas of previous natural occurrence.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of leaves of different Vitellaria paradoxa
on growth and development of Cirina forda. The objectives of the study were to determine;
i. phytochemical, proximate and micronutrient contents of leaves of different
Vitellaria paradoxa
ii. Growth indices of Cirina forda reared on leaves of different Vitellaria paradoxa.
iii.     Proximate and micronutrient contents of Cirina forda reared on leaves of different V. paradoxa plant.
iv. Anti-nutrient contents of the C. forda reared on leaves of different Vitellaria paradoxa.
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
EFFECTS OF VITELLARIA PARADOXA LEAF DIETS ON GROWTH AND NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS OF CIRINA FORDA (LEPIDOPTERA: SATURNIIDAE)
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