Effects of Edible Insects on the Mycelium Formation of .

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Cordyceps militaris </i>is a potential edible medicinal mushroom which containing various biological activity such as anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing, anti-protozoal and anti-microbial. The compositions of <i>C. militaris</i> media were composed of carbon source, nitrogen source and other additives. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of edible insects on the <i>C. militaris </i>mycelium formation. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Seven edible insects including <i>Bombyx mori </i>L., <i>Samia ricini</i> D., <i>Acheta domesticus</i> L., <i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i> De Geer, <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L., <i>Rhynchophorus ferrugineus</i> and <i>Lethocerus indicus</i> were used as nitrogen source supplemented in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and the mycelium formation of each edible insects at day 7, 14 and 21 were recorded. <b>Results:</b> The results of nitrogen source from a boiled edible insect at day 21 indicated that the highest colony diameter at 88.00 mm was obtained when cultured with PDA+<i>B. mori</i> L. The results of nitrogen source from a dried edible insect at day 21 presented that the highest diameter at 84.33 mm was obtained from cultured using PDA+<i>A. domesticus</i> L. <b>Conclusion:</b> The suitable boiled and dried edible insects for the supplement in PDA were boiled <i>B. mori</i> L. and dried <i>A. domesticus </i>L. This is the first report about PDA supplemented with edible insects that can be increased the <i>C. militaris</i> mycelium formation which the initial stage that important for <i>C. militaris </i>cultivation.