Top 10 Edible Bugs



10. Weaver Ants Eggs 


Ant eggs for salad - Market outside Chiang Mai

Weaver ants eggs are used as a tasty dip or topping for salad and tortilla chips in Thailand. However, they can only be collected one month out of the year, which is a very tedious and painful process. Weaver ants’ eggs are squishy and must be fully cooked before being enjoyed.

9. Giant Water Beetles 


Fried Giant Water Beetles

Also a popular delicacy in Thailand are Giant Water Beetles. These huge beetles are deshelled and then roasted or fried. Supposedly they taste like scallops.

8. Larvets Worm Snacks 


Larvets Worm Snax

These worms are baked so they have a crunchy texture. They come in a variety of flavors such as BBQ, cheese and Mexican spice.

7. Witchetty Grubs 


Witchetty Grub

These large, fleshy, white wood eating moths or beetle larvae are a principal source of protein in the Australian Aboriginal diets. They can either be eaten raw or lightly baked (typically over fire coals.)

6. Crickets 


Fried Crickets

Crickets (along with grasshoppers) are a pretty common bug to be eaten. The general consensus seems to be that they have a nutty flavor, although you can buy them seasoned (such as Crick-ettes brand Cricket snacks, which come in three flavors: Salt and Vinegar, Bacon and Cheese, and Sour Cream and Onion.) In the Northeast area of Thailand, egg-laden crickets (in other words, â€œpregnantâ€ crickets) are considered a popular and tasty snack.

5. Oven Baked Tarantula 


Oven Baked

Despite the fact that tarantula’s are arachnids, not insects, they are being included on this list simply because they are so closely related and commonly confused as being part of the insect family. At any rate, oven roasted tarantula is a popular menu item in Cambodia. The fangs must be removed before consuming; simply warm and enjoy. (Or not.)

4. Casu Marzu 



Casu Marzu is a type of cheese made from sheep’s milk that is crawling with insect larvae, which is popular in Sardinia, Italy. The soft cheese has been fermented to the point of decomposition, inviting insect larvae to develop. Some people choose to pick off the translucent little worms crawling on the cheese surface, while others enjoy the maggots.

3. Termites


Deep Fried Bugs

Eating termites is a way of life in Africa and some parts of Indonesia. They’re commonly collected at the beginning of the rainy season (when other protein sources are scarce.) Termites taste best after being slightly roasted.

2. Chocolate Covered Giant Ants 


Chocolate Covered Insects

Ants are another commonly consumed insect, although they taste best encased in decadent Belgian chocolate. Giant Queen Leafcutter ants bathed in chocolate are said to have a nutty flavor, boost the immune system and give the consumer extra energy.

1. Bug Suckers


Bug Suckers

We’ve all (probably) seen the suckers housing insects at one time or another. These are a common treat sold across America in shopping malls and candy stores. Examples of insects which you can find encased in hard candy include scorpions (ok, these are arachnids,) worms, grasshoppers and crickets.

While eating insects is pretty much a novelty in our culture, in some places throughout the world it is a necessity. Just about any insect can be eaten, as long as it’s given a good, long boiling first. Although calling an exterminator is still recommended when you discover an outbreak of bugs in your house- technically you â€œgo greenâ€ and eat them.




Published By Thomas Ballantyne



View all posts by

One thought on “Top 10 Edible Bugs

  1. Bug snacks make for a great Halloween party. A few years back one of our intrepid staffers followed bug snack recipes to make chocolate covered crickets (they had the taste and texture of chocolate covered almonds), and meal worm toffee. The crickets and meal worms were obtained from a pet store and cleansed according to the directions in the recipes. Her bug-free spinach dip was more readily consumed, but less of a conversation item!

Leave a Reply
