Enhancing Cricket Farming Efficiency: Comparative Analysis of Temperature Effects on Three Edible Malagasy Species.

Abstract

As demand for sustainable protein intensifies, edible crickets offer a promising solution to food insecurity and environmental strain, particularly in regions like Madagascar. This study investigated the effects of two rearing temperatures (28 °C and 30 °C) on life-history traits of three edible cricket species-Gryllus bimaculatus, Gryllodes sigillatus, and Teleogryllus lemur-under controlled laboratory conditions. Growth, survival, development time, and biomass yield were quantified for each species (n = 150 per temperature treatment) and analyzed using t-tests, chi-squared tests, and ANOVA. Results revealed distinct species-specific thermal responses. G. bimaculatus exhibited accelerated development and higher biomass at 30 °C without significant survival loss. G. sigillatus maintained high survival but developed more slowly at 30 °C, suggesting thermal sensitivity. In contrast, T. lemur demonstrated substantial growth gains at 30 °C but suffered a 50% reduction in survival, indicating heat intolerance. Development time and biomass yield varied significantly across species and temperature treatments (p < 0.0001). These findings highlight critical trade-offs between growth efficiency and survival in insect farming systems. G. bimaculatus emerges as a strong candidate for high-yield, thermally resilient farming, while T. lemur requires cooler rearing environments. This work informs species selection and environmental optimization for scalable, climate-adaptive cricket farming in tropical regions.