Edible – and Tasty – Insects

Agave worm: While many intoxicated college students have consumed this worm, sometimes known as the maguey worm, it is more than just the worm at the bottom of the tequila bottle. Agave worms are extremely nutritious and often included in authentic Mexican meals.

Bee: The bee – which only consumes royal jelly, pollen, and honey – is exceptionally tasty. The larvae is purported to taste like mushrooms and bacon when sautéed in butter. Fully-grown bees are said to be best when roasted and ground into flour. They are good for you and delicious.

Cicada: Found in the Eastern United States, cicadas only emerge every seventeen years, but immediately after they molt, they are a tender and juicy protein choice.

Dragonfly: While difficult to catch, dragonflies can be eaten either boiled or fried. Try breading with bee flour and frying in butter over the fire for a crisp, nutritious snack.

Earthworm: Feed the worms moist cornmeal for several days before cooking them, or put them in water for a few hours until they purge the old dirt. Not only will they taste better, you’ll be assured of no toxicity within the dirt they consumed. Boil them to remove the mucus layer. You can either eat them plain or try roasting, frying, or dehydrating them and grinding into a powder to use as flour.

Fly pupae: This is the small, red, pill-shaped stage of the fly. Similar to fish oil, the flavor has been compared to blood pudding.

Grasshopper: Like crickets, grasshoppers are high in protein and also contain calcium. Be sure to only select solid-colored ones, as some of the ones with multiple colors can be toxic. In Mexico, they roast the bugs and serve with chili and lime.

Hornworms: Often found on tomato or tobacco plants, these tasty bugs taste like a combination of crab, shrimp, and tomato. However, since the worms are found only on plants that are toxic for humans, you cannot eat them unless you either starve them for a few days or transplant them to the green pepper plant, which they will consume and is not toxic to humans.

June bug: These common insects are extremely safe, as there are no similar toxic versions of the bug and they do not consume anything that is dangerous to humans. They are easy to catch and have a flavor that is buttery and nutty. It is recommended that you remove the wings and legs, which are tough. The larva, a C-shaped worm found in dirt, is also quite yummy.

Prepping for TEOTWAWKI requires more than knowing which insects are edible. Plan for disaster by getting your finances in order, as well. Learn more from Jason Hartman’s website on fiscal security in uncertain times. (Top image: Flickr | jdn)

The Holistic Survival Team