There are millions of insect species known worldwide. Only 1500 or so are reported edible. This post reviews only 5 of those you could eat and how they are cooked throughout the world.
Entomophagy (a Greek word which means “insect eating”) is the practice of eating insects as food. While it is quite an ordinary thing in most Eastern cultures, it is considered a taboo in Europe and North America which may seem odd considering how plentiful and protein-packed insects are.
So unless you believe in the saying “You are what you eat“, you might probably consider adding a few insects in your daily menu:
1. Scorpions on Stick:
The so-called ‘desert lobster has a poisonous stinger at the end of a jointed tail. Scorpions are often cooked impaled on a stick, then dunked in boiling oil – they are said to have crunchy texture, but taste like nothing, “like salted peanut shells”.
Useful? Due to its poisonous nature and unusual look, the scorpions are often believed to have plenty of healing properties: scorpion can eliminate the body’s inner heat, treat paralysis, rheumatism, convulsion twitches, tetanus, cancer and hepatitis B.
2. Silkworms
Deep-fried silkworms have a distinctive, yet difficult to describe odor and an after-taste similar to wet, decomposing leaves. The outer shell is tough and should not be eaten.
Useful? Silkworms are a high source of protein, iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium and Vitamins B1, B2, and B3. They are good for children who suffer from malnutrition and as a supplement for pregnant women.
3. Cicadas
Cicadas look much like crickets but are differentiated by their mating call. Like scorpions, cicadas taste like nothing and have cool crunchy texture. The inner part is soft like the white part of a boiled egg. Wings and legs can get stuck in your teeth.
Useful? Cicadas are said to be rich in protein and Vitamins B1, B2, and B3.
4. Centipedes
Centipedes are long and leggy, and look and taste not really good (based on other people’s words).
Useful? Centipedes are believed to heal weak kidneys, backache and impotence.
5. Beetles / Bugs
Before cooking or eating a bug, be sure to remove the hard wings on the back and “lightly squeeze the head between your thumb and index finger to push out the intestines” (tip).
Useful? Bugs are believed to be antidiuretic (i.e. limits the formation of urine) that can cure kids of bed-wetting and the elderly from making too many trips to the toilet.
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Reader Comment
Cameron (July 20th, 2009, 02:39 pm)
The “Cicadas” pictured are actually locusts. Cicadas don’t look anything like crickets.
pasco (July 20th, 2009, 02:39 pm)
hey, knuckle head, the picture for “beetles/bugs” part, those are cicadas and the “cicadas” pic, those are crickets. eeeesh, the insect ignorant…
djd586 (July 20th, 2009, 03:03 pm)
I’m bored so I’m gonna nit pick. There are only 3 insects listed. Scorpions and Centipedes are not insects. Scorpions are Arachnids, and centipedes are in the Chilopoda class. Although, all five animals listed are in fact Arthropods. The correct title for this page should be: 5 Arthropods You Should Eat But Probably Wouldn’t: Arthropods on a Stick.
FRANCIS (July 20th, 2009, 03:08 pm)
I WAS IN PERU LAST YEAR AND TASTED THE GRUBS AND THEY TASTED A LOT LIKE SHRIMP
John (July 20th, 2009, 03:20 pm)
Really tasty article. I found out they are not for me. Ate termite cookies once -just like chocolate chip.
yayamateur (July 20th, 2009, 03:25 pm)
I read that sentence on scorpions about 10 times now but I’m still not sure if you’re claiming scorpions cure cancer or not. Even if that sentence is saying they are “believed” to be a cancer “treatment”, the people that believe that probably don’t have internet access. Maybe “some cultures” believe it would fit better in that sentence, or maybe interbent > science.
Brian (July 20th, 2009, 03:25 pm)
Cicadas are high in mercury and it’s not recommended to eat them because of it.
FRANCIS2 (July 20th, 2009, 03:26 pm)
I WAS IN PERU AND DECIDED TO TYPE IN CAPS SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE I WAS AND WHAT I DID! LOOK AT ME!!!!
choco (July 20th, 2009, 03:29 pm)
it just looks like your went to the night market in Beijing….
Television Spy (July 20th, 2009, 04:13 pm)
there’s no difference between cows or pigs and insects. So stop squeaming at eat up or shut up.
Berkana (July 20th, 2009, 07:31 pm)
Scorpions and centipedes are not insects. Scorpions are classified as arachnids, but they are probably more related to land crustaceans. Cicadas are nothing like crickets. You ought to look these things up in wikipedia before writing such an article.
wwwwwwww (July 20th, 2009, 08:42 pm)
Yes there is, you dumb fuck. Cow and pig meat is eaten as pure meat. Insects are eaten complete with heads, eyes, feelers, shells, exoskeletons, legs, and internal organs. So no, YOU shut the fuck up.
cs (July 20th, 2009, 11:23 pm)
Yeah… it’s not like anyone ever eats the eyes or internal organs of cows or pi… oh wait.
Chris G (July 21st, 2009, 03:13 am)
To the guy that said people don’t eat the head and other parts of animals bodies. Are you that dense? People eat pig feet, intestines (I wonder who), etc. Pretty much every part of the body depending on where you live. The intestine eaters live in the United States, so it’s not like they are some African tribe that has never had Olive Garden.
Gary (July 21st, 2009, 05:29 am)
I went down on a girl who had crabs. The crabs tasted better than her, actually they tasted a little like chicken… Yum!
Flu-Bird (July 21st, 2009, 09:38 am)
CRICKET LICKETS,AMBER INSECT INSIDE,CHOCOLATE COVERED GRASSHOPPERS,SQUAWK SQUAWK SSSSQQQQUUUUAAAWWWWKKKK FLU-BIRD IS HUNGRY
Arjuna (July 21st, 2009, 11:33 pm)
Why is it disgusting to eat small arthropods, but grow them to giant size like crabs and lobsters and everyone’s mouth starts watering?
robot (July 25th, 2009, 03:35 pm)
You can grow arthropods into lobsters? Whoa.
dave (July 27th, 2009, 12:17 am)
LOL ROFLMAO Pigs are eaten as pure meat? LOL and umm… i know plenty of people that actually eat the eyes and tongue and internal organs of the cow and pig.. Jesus you ever ate sardines? that’s a head, eyes, skeleton and everything all in one juicy bite..And wait… you have the audacity to call someone else a “dumb fuck” … LOL wow.. and what the hell do you think people ate in ancient societies when they didn’t eat meat or animals? Protein is protein, it doesn’t matter how you get it.I’m personally not gonna eat a silk worm or a cricket to get it, but that’s my choice..
the rural independent (July 28th, 2009, 09:45 am)
During the Viet Nam war, a GI could often gain the favor of a young lady by offering her a bag full of “Rice Bugs.” Many Vietnamese loved to bite off the head of these large creatures and suck the innards out of the neck. In Florida there is a “Palmetto Bug” which most certainly is a close cousin to the “rice bugs” of South East Asia. These “Palmetto Bugs” are large enough to be feared by motorcyclists as they can about knock you on your arse if you catch one in the face at high speed.
This is a very cool article and I will reference it on our homesteading website, as homesteaders are likely to have bugs in abundance and adventuresome ideas of frugal ways to feed themselves!
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