As it is in the Book, in north Africa ; Tunisia, Algeria, Lybia, Egypt... We don't eat insects and i don't think that it will be in our food tradition any time soon. As for other countries i have no Idea. I wonder how it taste the Insect and what order of insects is suitable to eat. Interesting!
Beetle grubs are served at feasts in Papua New Guinea; fried larvae of ants (Crematogaster smaragdus) are served at festivals in Assam; Lepidoptera larvae constitute one third of pickles in Central Africa; locusts are eaten over most of Africa; fried cockroaches are a favourite street food in Vietnam; eri silk moth adults are eaten fried in Assam, as are certain bugs (Heteroptera); Giant Water Bugs are a favourite food in Assam and other rice growing areas; honey pot ants are a well liked sweet in regions where they occur; have patience, you will soon be eating and liking insects! :)
Hi! In the Philippines, entomophagy is very common among tribes especially in the northern parts. One of the most popular is eating raw or fried Red Fire Ant eggs. In some sub-urban and rural areas in the Visayas, coconut beetle grubs are eaten raw (without the head, of course), while locusts are sauteed or barbecued. Some locals use them as "pulutan" while drinking beer.
Hi,
Entomophagy is common in South East Asia with several tribes or peoples from suburban areas consuming dragonflies, both anisopterans and zygopterans. They catch different species over rice fields and marshlands. The most popular is eating adults dragonflies fried with ognons and rice and in some parts, this constitute an important part of the energetic fullflment. This consitute also a traditionnal way of life notably in some parts of Sri Lanka. Hope this helps !
Entomophagy is a basic ingrdient of food of all primates, - man included. However, culturally, religiously, economically and as part of food security it is prohibitted or alloowed . In Islam only locust is allowed. In Pakistan insects are not served or eaten .
Well, the cochineal insect is back again, so most of us, especially lipstick using ladies, have eaten insects although they might not be aware of it... here is a Wiki extract about the cochineal insect's product: "most consumers are unaware that the phrases "cochineal extract", "carmine", "crimson lake", "natural red 4", "C.I. 75470", "E120", or even "natural colouring" refer to a dye that is derived from an insect. One reason for its popularity is that many commercial synthetic red dyes were found to be carcinogenic."
However, most of us have missed Stephen's original question, "in which country are insects the most popular food": my vote goes to Papua New Guinea, where roasted beetle larvae are served as special dishes at feasts; second would probably be Vietnam, where people buy fried cockroaches from street vendors. If street vendors can survive on selling fried cockroaches, surely it must be a popular food! Also I understand that several central African countries sell dried moth larvae to be used in pickles, in fact, one third of all pickles in those countries are insect based. Locusts in honey, of course, was a delicacy in olden times.
in the past, During the drought years, Grasshopper was been eaten in my country as our grandparents told us, but not now.
Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security
(http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3253e/i3253e.pdf )
provides estimated number of edible insects in different regions of the world. They cite, for example, 549 edible species in Mexico, 428 species in the Amazon.
Other FAO publications with interesting information about entomophagy :
Edible forest insects, Humans bite back
http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1380e/i1380e00.pdf
The contribution of insects to food security, livelihoods and the environment (broad document, only 4 pages)
http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3264e/i3264e00.pdf
Hope this helps answer your question!
I am not sure about which country insects are popular, but here in Japan there are traditional and regional gastronomy using grasshoppers, honey bees pupae and larvae. In Chinese and Japanese traditional medication insects are used as a source for crude drugs.
Unfortunately crustaceans are not included in the therm entomophagy. If it included, Japan would be one of the most entomophagist country in the world.
Quite true, nut crustaceans ae the regular part of dish on the dinning table
Lilian, I understand they even make liquor from hornet larvae in Japan. It is called sochu. Unfortunately, Stephen asked about countries where insects are eaten, not drunk, otherwise this would be an interesting addition! :)
Hahaha, the comments are becoming interesting anyway... Entomophagy in all form for providing energy
I just saw this, perhaps it is relevant to the present discussion?
Book review on "Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security"
Jurate De Prins
Advances in Entomology 01/2014; 2(1):47-48. DOI:10.4236/ae.2014.21008
Perhaps in future we will start havesting / rearing insects for food security - to cope with population explosion !!!
In Colombia, in Santader county is very popular to eat ants, these insects leave specially during the first wet season of the year that menas from March to almost June
There was an article published in American Entomologist 15-20 years ago that listed the number of spp by country and broke them down taxonomically. You'll have to search for it. As I recall, MX and Thailand were the top two, but maybe not in that order.
Why not Ligia !!! Our close relative, I meah Chimp, enjoy ants dinner, why not we. Ants must be tasty, I guess...
Fried ant larvae, especially of the fire ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) are a common food throughout Indo-China. In Assam, they are part of the festivities of Bihu, among the most popular festivals of the state.
Good info Peter. Next time I visit Assam, I will certainly try it.
Muhammad, while you are there, try the fried Eri Silk Moth, which I am told, is also very good. And Giant Water Bugs, too. Enjoy!
Thanks for two more dishes. Silk moth could be fried here too but for giant water bug, we have to wait.
Have a look to the following papers:
Potential of Insects as Food and Feed in Assuring Food Security
Arnold van Huis
Annual Review of Entomology Vol. 58 (2013): 563-583
INSECTS AS FOOD: Why the Western Attitude Is Important
Gene R. DeFoliart
Annual Review of Entomology Vol. 44 (1999): 21-50
The following papers may help you find some things about insect as food
Potential of Insects as Food and Feed in Assuring Food Security
Arnold van Huis
Annual Review of Entomology Vol. 58 (2013): 563-583
INSECTS AS FOOD: Why the Western Attitude Is Important
Gene R. DeFoliart
Annual Review of Entomology Vol. 44 (1999): 21-50
People should always be reminded that insects are regularly consumed in food in all countries as an inevitable outcome of agriculture and storage and exposure of goods until consumption, particularly remains of eggs and larvae. If one is young, lives in a really cold country and totally avoids vegetables, there might be a chance that this person has yet never eaten any insect. Regarding accidental consumption of insects, I would assume that residents of tropical and subtropical regions must have the highest inadvertent rates of entomophagy.
Hi, Even though most insect species are eaten in Asia, Africa and South America (FAO 2013. Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security. Forestry paper, 171: 1-154.), I think that there are indications that North America and Europe might follow. So far much of the work in these regions has been focused on producing minced insects for protein bars, but I think that will change. I and my colleagues are currently starting research focused on native species and focusing on a large spectrum och ecological, physiological and social science questions in relation to entomophagy. If you have any papers I'd love to read them.
Hi everyone, some colombian indigenous communities eat "mojojoy", Colepotera larvae of the species Rhynchophorus palmarum (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297734180_Approximation_of_the_socio-cultural_importance_of_the_Moriche_palm_tree_Mauritia_fleuxuosa_LF_in_the_Wacoyo_indigenous_community_Sikuani_in_the_municipality_of_Puerto_Gaitan_Colombia) and Ancognatha spp. depending on the region and on the ethnic background.
Hello Vanessa; In tropical America the abdomens of Leaf-cutter ant queens are roasted and served as a snack. With a little salt they are a tasty source of protein.
Enjoy, Jim Des Lauriers
I understand from the Research Institute for Resource Insects in China that there are over 300 different edible insects eaten in China. They have samples of all these and have documented them.
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