**Nutritional Value of the Larvae of the Alien Invasive Wasp** *Vespa velutina nigrithorax* **and Amino Acid Composition of the Larval Saliva**

**Hyeyoon Jeong 1, Ja Min Kim 1,2, Beomsu Kim 1, Ju-Ock Nam 1,2, Dongyup Hahn 1,2,3,\* and Moon Bo Choi 2,4,\***


Received: 30 May 2020; Accepted: 30 June 2020; Published: 6 July 2020

**Abstract:** The systematic investigations on the value of social wasps as a food resource are deficient, in spite of the long history of the utilization of social wasps as food and pharmaceutical bioresources. *Vespa velutina nigrithorax* is an invasive alien wasp species that is currently dominating in East Asia and Europe, bringing huge economic damages. As a control over alien species is made when the valuable utilization of the invasive species as a potential resource are discovered, investigations on the potential of *V. v. nigrithorax* as a useful bioresource are also in demand. Nutritional and heavy metal analyses of the larvae revealed their balanced and rich nutritional value and safety as a food resource. The larval saliva amino acid composition was investigated for further study on amino acid supplementation and exercise enhancement.

**Keywords:** edible insects; alternative food resource; wasp larva; *Vespa velutina nigrithorax*
