tinues to grow as more research is
conducted. The majority of these
known species are harvested in the
wild; however, few data are available on the quantities of insects consumed worldwide. From the data
that are available, the most commonly consumed insects are beetles
(31 %), caterpillars (18%) and bees,
wasps and ants (14%). These are
followed by grasshoppers, locusts
and crickets (13%), cicadas, leaf and
planthoppers, scale insects and true
bugs (10%), termites (3%), dragonflies (3% ), flies (2%) and other orders (5% ).
A feed alternative
According to the International Feed
Industry Federation, global compound animal feed production was
720 million tonnes in 2010. Insects
can supplement traditional feed
sources such as soy, maize, grains
and fishmeal. Insects with the largest immediate potential for largescale feed production are larvae of
the black soldier fly, the common
housefly and the yellow mealworm
– but other insect species are also
being investigated for this purpose.
Producers in many countries, including South Africa, are already rearing
large quantities of flies for aquaculture and poultry feed by bioconverting organic waste.
Is entomophagy dangerous?
There are no known cases of transmission of diseases or parasitoids to
humans from the consumption of
insects (on the condition that the
insects were handled under the
same sanitary conditions as any other food). Allergies comparable with
allergies to crustaceans, which are
also invertebrates may occur.
The contribution of insects to food
Deep fried bugs in Bangkok
Photo: www.virtualtourist.com
security, livelihoods and the environment: Science fiction or reality?
At present, insect farming takes
place mainly at the small-scale, family-farm level and caters to niche
markets. Although rearing insects is
technically feasible, production can
be more expensive than the production of traditional food and feed
sources. However, current research
suggests that insects can often be a
more sustainable and cheaper alternative when external costs from
harvest, production and transportation such as fresh water, greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel
consumption are factored into the
total costs of conventionally produced food.
The scale of current production cannot compete with conventional feed
and food sources. Further mechanization is therefore a key to the
growth of the industry. In addition,
appropriate regulatory frameworks
governing the production and trade
of insects as feed and food need to
be developed.
beehives, spider webs and termite hills to inspire the designs
of a range of products and processes.
Insects have formed part of traditional medicine for thousands
of years. (eg. fly maggots used
to clean dead tissue in wounds,
and bee products such as propolis, royal jelly and honey for
healing.
The natural colour of insects has
been exploited by different cultures for centuries. For example,
the Aztecs used the red colour
produced by the cochineal. It is
still used today as a natural food
colouring in cosmetics and as a
dye.
Silk, from silkworms, has been
used for centuries as a soft yet
strong and highly durable fabric.
More than just food
Insects provide other important and
useful functions beyond food and
feed.
Insects are important providers
of ecosystem services. (eg. pollination, biological control and
the decomposition of organic
litter).
Insects are tested to reduce livestock manure, and to litigate
foul odours. (Larval flies transform manure into fertilizer and
consumable protein).
Insects have inspired human innovation for many years. Biomimicry has used the features of
Exploitation and management
considerations for wild insects for
food
The following should be considered
in the protection of insect populations in natural environments:
Consult the livelihoods and diets
of local people in the management and conservation of natural insect habitats.
Allow for sustainable harvesting
of edible insects by local people
within otherwise protected areas.
Regulate the use of pesticides to
avoid the bioaccumulation of
pollutants in the food chain.
Develop methods to monitor
harvesting levels so that beneficial insect populations are not
threatened.
Integrate systems for the domestication or semi-domestication of
insects, to supplement insects
caught through wild harvesting
Cochineal, a scale insect been
used for its colour.
Sangi, boiled and fried silkworm
pupae.
Photo: www.latinamericanstudies.org
Photo: www.inventorspot.com