Edible/Harvesting Bugs

[Harvesttime]

Although this may not sound appetizing, I think we should learn about it. Watching doomsday preppers show reminded me this should be a learned skill. Our family actually used to harvest meal worms and crickets(still harvesting crickets). This is to feed the large collection of trantulas my kids have and our small group of frogs. This is actually very easy to do. My kids did the crickets and my other half did the meal worms. These are both high in protein and a good edible human food source if needed. I think it would be great for others to share info you can find on this. Would like to know what bugs are edible and what ones we shouldnt touch. I also well find some type of video's to share here on how to harvest them.

[Harvesttime]

Here's a start on some info. Video also.
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survi...le-bug.htm

[wallydog]

I wonder if looking up gathering habits of the aboriginals etc would be a good start?

[Mongoose]

Most of our multi legged friends are up to 80% protein. Just stay away from the colorful and hairy ones.

[hiker]

Now thats what Im talking about! I love me some campfire fried ants and crickets. Coat them in a little olive oil or butter, add salt and mm mm tasty! Never remove the legs or exoskeleton because it provides the crunch that we all love!

Foraging for insects, reptiles and edible plants while hiking has always allowed me to reduce my food load. Sometimes I even crave the little buggers when I'm at home, though I save the actual process for for the wilderness because steak always wins over bugs when available.

Small grasshoppers and water beetles provide the most protein.

Note: While you can eat these critters raw, you should only do this if you are in a survival situation and cannot produce a fire. Bugs carry parasites and other nasty things you don't want to ingest while in a SS.

(Sometimes I do this to ants I find in my house just out of principle. Make sure you eat them in front of other ants as to scare the living heck out of them and they run back and tell the colony to beware of the giant tongue)

Great Thread Harvesttime!!!!

[hiker]

To be safe, stick with ants, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, grubs, and centipedes.

[Harvesttime]

(05-29-2012 09:22 AM)Mongoose Wrote:  Most of our multi legged friends are up to 80% protein. Just stay away from the colorful and hairy ones.

Hairy in like tarantula's etc. Are they bad to eat? Colorful means venomous/toxic doesnt it?

[Harvesttime]

Entomophagy is the consumption of insects. Seems over half the worlds population consumes insects for nutrition. The states see's it differently. In this article I found it interesting the experts say americans dont intentionally eat insects, BUT may in the future due to strain on natural resources.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/...cadas.html

[Harvesttime]

(05-29-2012 09:58 AM)Hiker Wrote:  Now thats what Im talking about! I love me some campfire fried ants and crickets. Coat them in a little olive oil or butter, add salt and mm mm tasty! Never remove the legs or exoskeleton because it provides the crunch that we all love!

Foraging for insects, reptiles and edible plants while hiking has always allowed me to reduce my food load. Sometimes I even crave the little buggers when I'm at home, though I save the actual process for for the wilderness because steak always wins over bugs when available.

Small grasshoppers and water beetles provide the most protein.

Note: While you can eat these critters raw, you should only do this if you are in a survival situation and cannot produce a fire. Bugs carry parasites and other nasty things you don't want to ingest while in a SS.

(Sometimes I do this to ants I find in my house just out of principle. Make sure you eat them in front of other ants as to scare the living heck out of them and they run back and tell the colony to beware of the giant tongue)

Great Thread Harvesttime!!!!

Hiker, I never considered the parasite etc issue! Thanks for the warning. Im thinking of buying a small book of some sort of edible bugs and info. We have the edible plants in our bobs. Doesnt take up much room(paperbacks). Includes colored photos. I was surprised at the edible plants that also have poisonous look a likes. Bugs may be the same? Although I believe some venomous insects can be ate. Anyone come across any good edible bug books, please share.

[Inahme]

@Harvesttime...If I had a choice between the meal worms, crickets and the tarantulas I'm eating the spiders. Fried they're quite good. You avoid hairy bugs because it tickles your throat. Frying the spiders takes care of the hair. Another rule to follow is nothing with more than 6 legs. Tarantulas being an exception.
For books I'd go with the Army SERE manuals for a starter.