Insects as Food

Entomophagy, the human consumption of insects, is the most studied area in ethnoentomology (Posey, 1986). While the idea of eating insects is often met with disgust and even considered as “taboo”, it is widely practiced in many countries. In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has recognised 1,900 edible insect species, and documented the consumption of insects in various countries within Africa, Asia, and Latin America. At least 2 billion people consume insects as part of their traditional diets, and the practice is largely driven by cultural and religious practices and dietary preferences (van Huis, et al., 2013; Yen, 2009).

In Southeast Asia, 150 to 200 edible insect species are consumed. The high abundance and diversity of species in the tropics allows for various species to be collected throughout the year to ensure a continuous supply of insects in countries such as Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam (van Huis, et al., 2013).

VARIOUS insect SPECIES sold as street food in Thailand. © Teseum – Flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0

Entomophagy has often been posited as a food security solution due to insects’ high nutrition value, large abundance as a natural resource and potential for industrial-scale rearing. However, the natural populations of some species are declining due to overharvesting, habitat loss and climate change (van Huis, et al., 2013; Yen, 2009; Gahukar, 2011; Ramos-Elorduy, 2009). For example, the commercialisation of Mopane caterpillars in Africa has resulted in a conservation dilemma, where caterpillars became a new income source and were overharvested in both urban and rural areas. Large-scale production systems are mostly in the early start-up stages, and are currently not economically competitive (van Huis, et al., 2013).

Mopane caterpillars © NH53 – Flickr | CC BY 2.0

In Western societies, the pervasive disgust towards entomophagy stemmed from negative perceptions towards insects, such as nuisance, disease vectors and even fear. Insect consumption is often seen as “primitive”, and the availability of protein sources, such as poultry and beef, makes insects a less desired food option. In Western media, entomophagy is often shown as a shock effect, with notable examples in the television series, Fear Factor, and the movie, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (see video below).

For more information on entomophagy and edible insects, check out the FAO Forestry Paper 171 – Edible insects: future prospects for food and feed security.