ABSTRACT
Nutrition may be studied both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative nutrition deals exclusively with nutrients needed from the chemical aspect. In this case, it is well known that, independently of the systematic position and the feeding habits of insects, qualitative nutritional needs are similar and that these needs, except for a general need for sterols, are close (with rare exceptions) to those of the higher animals. The basic nutritional needs of insects include amino acids, vitamins and mineral salts (essential nutrients) and carbohydrates, lipids, and sterols (nonesssential nutrients), which should be adequately balanced, especially in the ratio of proteins (amino acids): carbohydrates (see Chapter 3).
