Special Note...
The information in this page has been compiled from reliable sources through other webpage as for self reference learning works.
It is not a substitute for food and or for any medicinal purposes and it does not purport to provide any advice.
In the field of wild survival, each and every
individual body absorbing system is different and It should not be consume or used without any expert guidance.
Readers should always consult the expert in the field before consuming any insects in the wild and or for using it as form of medicinal purposes.
The information in this page has been compiled from reliable sources through other webpage as for self reference learning works.
It is not a substitute for food and or for any medicinal purposes and it does not purport to provide any advice.
In the field of wild survival, each and every
individual body absorbing system is different and It should not be consume or used without any expert guidance.
Readers should always consult the expert in the field before consuming any insects in the wild and or for using it as form of medicinal purposes.
Wild Survival
Surviving in the wild part 1.....
Insects are actually the most abundant protein source on the planet, and many of them boast dense concentrations of nutrients like omega 3s.
Grasshoppers and crickets are extraordinarily protein-rich, and you can collect them pretty much anywhere. Most types of grasshoppers and crickets are edible, they can carry nematodes, so remember to cook them before you eat them.
Nematode, also called roundworm, any worm of the phylum Nematoda. Nematodes are among the most abundant animals on Earth. They occur as parasites in animals and plants or as free-living forms in soil, fresh water, marine environments, and even such unusual places as vinegar, beer malts, and water-filled cracks deep within Earth’s crust. Nematodes are bilaterally symmetrical, elongate, and usually tapered at both ends.
Nematodes can cause a variety of diseases (such as filariasis, ascariasis, and trichinosis) and parasitize many crop plants and domesticated animals.
Poisonous Grasshoppers :
While the majority of grasshoppers are safe to eat, there are a few exceptions. Avoid any brightly-colored specimens, such as the eastern lubber (common in Texas and some other southern states), which can make you sick.
How to Eat Them :
To prepare crickets and grasshoppers, pull off their heads and the entrails should come with; discard both. The entrails are edible, but removing them reduces the risk of parasite transmission. For this reason, always cook the bugs before eating them.
Remove the wings and legs. Dry roast them if you have a pan, or skewer them and roast over flame if you don’t. You can char them if you prefer.
Ants :
Most ant species are edible, their flavor is pleasantly sour. This is because ants secrete an acid when threatened, giving them a vinegar-like flavor. In Colombia ants are roasted with salt (crunchy salt-and-vinegar ants!) and eaten at feasts. The queen ants are preferred there, having big juicy butts (more fat). In Colombian folk culture, queen ants are said to boost libido.
Ant larvae are also fantastic, having no sour flavor. They can often be found in clumps under rocks, or on top of anthills when they are being moved or kept warm.
The ant larvae and pupae are collected and processed into bird food and fish bait in Indonesia, are used in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine, and consumed as a delicacy in Thailand and other countries.
One good way to collect them is to hit an anthill or other habitat (like a rotting log) with a stick a of couple times, then put the end of the stick in the opening. As ants rush to bite the stick, dunk it into a container of water, ideally the container you want to cook them in. Repeat until you have a few hundred.
How to Eat them :
Capture as many as you can, putting them straight into the water so that they drown while you catch more. Once you’ve caught a sizeable portion, boil them for about six minutes. This will neutralize the acid in their bodies. If you have to eat them raw, just make sure they’re dead first so they don’t bite you.
Termites :
Termites are a great source of protein, and since they live most of their lives buried away in wood, they are less likely to carry parasites than other insects. Mature adult termites have wings and can fly. The other stages (larvae, workers, soldiers, nymphs, queens, etc) can’t fly, so they’re easier to snag. In some cultures, termite queens are regarded as a delicacy.
How to Catch Them :
Termites love wood and it is their main food source. Look for a decomposing wood break open the punky log and grab them or shake them out fast. As soon as they see light, they’ll crawl deeper into the wood.
How to Eat :
Them Roast them in a dry pan. You want these critters cooked up crispy.
Grubs :
When someone says “grub,” they’re typically referring to the larval stage of a beetle. There are over 344 grub species consumed around the globe, including the witchetty grub in Australia, palm weevil grubs in some Asian countries, giant water bugs in North America, and mopane worms in Africa. Some of them are small and crunchy, like mealworms, and some are fat and juicy, like rhinoceros beetle larva.
The best place to collect them is in rotting logs. You can also try stripping bark off of living trees, or searching under rocks and leaf litter.
How to Eat Them :
Skewer them lengthwise with a long stick and cook over an open flame until the skin is crispy.
Maggots :
Grubs and maggots are a bit different, even if they’re both pretty gnarly and maybe not prime snack material. Grubs are fat, juicy, and usually white in color. Maggots are thin, yellow-brownish, and legless. “Grub” usually refers to beetle larvae, while “maggot” usually refers to fly larvae. They are both edible.
There are many different types of maggots. Some maggots live in rotting flesh and spoiled meat. While rotting meat isn’t safe to eat, the maggots are (but cook them first!). They also tend to live in rotting vegetables and fruit. Some even live in water. Maggots are incredibly high in protein and other beneficial nutrients.
Find a source to harvest them from or if you’ve got time, and some spoiled fruit, you can create your own by leaving it out.
How to Eat Them :
Boil or saute to kill any potential lingering germs.
Wood Lice :
Also called “sow bugs,” “potato bugs,” “roly polies,” or “pill bugs,” woodlice are actually not a bug at all. They’re the only terrestrial crustacean in North America and have a flavor that’s similar to shrimp. In fact, they’re even called “land shrimp” sometimes. They are extremely easy to collect. Overturn rocks and logs or sift through dead leaves, and you’re sure to find some.
How to Eat Them :
Drop them in boiling water, and leave them there for a while. They can carry nematodes, better known as parasitic roundworms, so be sure they’re thoroughly cooked. When they’re done, strain the water out and eat.
Earthworms :
Are worms technically bugs? No. Not even close. But they are edible. You’ve probably played with these more than you’ve eaten them. However, things are about to change since, well, you’re here. If push comes to shove, you can go scrounging for these wriggly morsels. Maybe thinking of them as free-range, very fresh spaghetti will help them slide down your gullet easier. Remember to squish out the poop before you eat them.
If it just rained, spotting these wigglers should be pretty easy. They’ll be everywhere. If it hasn’t just rained, ferret about for them in damp soil, in decomposing flora (such as leaves and wood), or under rocks.
How to Eat Them :
While worms can be eaten raw in an emergency, you should cook them if at all possible. Like most of the things on this list, they can potentially carry parasites and the parasite potential should motivate you to cook them first. Not to mention the extremely unpleasant prospect of eating a live worm.
Stinkbugs :
Yep, believe it or not, stinkbugs are edible. Generally speaking, you shouldn’t eat noxiously odiferous bugs.
Stinkbugs, however, are the exception. They’re just fine to send down that hatch (after you cook them, of course). They are even considered a delicacy in Mexico, where there’s an annual festival in Taxco to celebrate them.
In the winter, you will probably find them hiding under rocks, logs, or other cover. Otherwise, you’ll see them parading arrogantly across open ground. You’ll recognize them because they look like a traditional medieval shield, straight across on the top and coming to a point on the bottom.
How to Eat Them :
Some people eat them raw, but maybe try not to be one of those people if you can. To rid stinkbugs of their stinkitude, soak them in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes, and then cook extensively by roasting in a dry pan. They are said to have an “iodine” taste.
Scorpions :
Scorpions are a common street food in China and can be found in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and other Southwestern states. They taste a bit like crab.
If you decide to dine on scorpion, make sure that you cut the stinger off first. Usually the venom is produced and stored in the top two or so segments of the tail. And make sure you cook them! Cooking generally negates the venom’s poisonous properties, but you can still have an allergic reaction to it. Unlike a bee or wasp, you’re not likely to get stung by a scorpion after it’s dead. If you’ve never eaten scorpion before, however, it might be best to avoid these, but if you’re in a survival situation, you might not have a choice.
These living, dangerous thumbtacks reside in dens. They’ll be low to the ground, burrowed under overhanging rocks or logs.
How to Eat Them :
Roast over a fire or coals until it’s well browned.
Earwigs :
Earwigs are edible and safe to eat. They don’t have stingers. They don’t have venom. They look like a cross between an ant (the head portion) and a scorpion (the pincher bits), and are about the size of one of those flattened pennies you get at a fair. When agitated, they might try to attack with their pinchers, but those pinches usually don’t break the skin or even hurt very much. These guys are pretty easy to find by just looking under logs and things that look like they’ve been undisturbed for a while is a good place to start. They like dark, wet places.
How to Eat Them :
Get your fire roarin’ (or purring, it’s up to you). Sauteé your dinner. You want your ‘wigs nice and crispy.
Once they’re fully cooked, you’re good to enjoy your dinner.
Dragonflies :
Dragonflies are the most common in the spring and summer months. They more or less have two life-cycle stages: nymph and adult. Both of these stages are edible, though one is much easier to catch than the other.
While they’re in their nymph stage, they’re often green, about the size of the fist two segments of your pointer finger, and water-borne. Much easier to catch when they can’t zoom away! Dragonfly larvae live in water and are more common in the spring and summer months. Their adult stage is what you’re used to seeing: a fully grown dragonfly. These are edible, but can be a pain to catch because of how fast and dexterous that are.
How to Eat Them :
You only need to cook these for a few seconds, just enough to kill any germs. Pulling the wings and legs off is optional but might make them literally easier to swallow.
Cicada :
They sing, they soar, they swarm, they… make for a tasty snack? Brood X cicadas have descended upon the Eastern United States for the first time in 17 years, and they’re showing up on some peoples’ plates.
Entomophagy :
The eating of insects, is common around the world, especially in parts of Asia and Africa, as many insects have been found to be an excellent source of essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins and proteins. They’re thought to be a healthy, sustainable alternative to meat.
But before you start collecting the bugs, be aware of the risks: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not recommend consuming cicadas if you have a seafood allergy, as cicadas are actually pretty similar to shrimp and lobsters and could potentially cause a reaction.
Who should avoid them :
Who shouldn’t eat cicadas, first things eating cicadas is not for everyone. You should avoid consuming these crunchy critters if you fall into any of the following groups ........
People with shellfish allergies :
Cicadas, sometimes referred to as “land shrimp,” are a derivative of shellfish, so stay away from them if you have a known allergy.
People who are pregnant or lactating :
Shellfish are bio-accumulators of mercury, which can harm a developing baby’s brain. Though you probably wouldn’t eat enough cicadas to ingest harmful levels of mercury, it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Young children :
Mercury can negatively impact children’s neurological development, so keep kids away from cicada snacks.
Anyone at risk for gout :
If you’ve struggled with gout (a form of inflammatory arthritis) in the past, don’t eat cicadas, which may cause gout flare-ups.
For people who don’t fall into any of those categories, cicadas are absolutely safe to eat.
And though there’s little formal data on the nutritional value of cicadas, Czerwony compares them to crickets, which are eaten by people around the world. “Both insects are very high in protein and low in fat.
If you’re going to eat cicadas, though, it’s important to collect them from an area that hasn’t been subjected to toxins. Their teneral and nymph stages are ideal for eating.
Young cicadas, called tenerals, are generally best to eat because their bodies haven’t hardened yet.
“Remember: They’ve been in the ground for 17 years, so they’ve been able to absorb pesticides, lawn fertilizers, and any other chemical that is put on the lawn. If you are in a place which had been chemically treated, head someplace a little bit more wild and untouched to collect cicadas for eating.
Before you cook them (usually by boiling, blanching, frying, or roasting), remove hard parts like wings and legs.
Insects are nutritious (cicadas, for example, are low in calories, high in iron and protein), sustainable (they don't harm the environment and eat little) and a great way for us to feel connected to Mother Nature.
The little bugs are surprisingly meaty, wonderfully crunchy.
Survival in the wild part 2
Edible Bugs You Probably Want to Avoid Eating ....
These bugs are edible, but either harder to find or riskier to collect and eat. You may want to exercise caution before eating these, or at least know what you’re getting yourself into.
• Slugs and snails
• Tarantulas
• Bees and wasps
• Caterpillars
Slugs and Snails :
While their flesh is benign, there’s a high enough likelihood that they’ve fed on something toxic, like poisonous plants or mushrooms to make eating them inadvisable.
The ones that you eat in a restaurant have been fed safe-to-eat plants; the people preparing them know exactly what those snails were eating. The same can’t be said of an in-the-wild snail’s diet.
If you eat wild snails or slugs, you risk contracting rat lungworm, which can turn into eosinophilic meningitis (causing severe brain and nervous system damage). These diseases usually hide in the digestive tract of the slugs and snails, so cooking them won’t necessarily guarantee that they’re disease-free system.
If snails are your only meal option, you can also feed them plants you know aren’t poisonous for a week before eating them. Then be sure to cook them thoroughly.
Tarantulas :
Fun fact: fried spider is a delicacy in Cambodia. Remove as much hair as you can, and don’t eat the fangs. If you cook them, curled legs are an indicator of how done they are and how well cooked the insides are. One of the most common edible spiders is the Thai zebra spider, but it is venomous and aggressive.
Bees and Wasps :
Cut off the stingers and legs. Cook well. But be forewarned: These fliers are dangerous to catch. If risking stings is worth it (or you don’t have another choice), you can try plugging the hive, and then smoke the whole thing with some sort of improvised torch to kill everything inside. These are on the “honorable mention” list only because they’re hard to catch and will attack you without remorse. That said, bee larvae can be eaten, and they’re less likely to fight back.
Telltale Signs a Bug Might Kill You :
While the majority of bugs are safe to eat, there are a few precautions you should take:
Avoid Bright Colors:
Don’t eat any insects that are brightly colored; their coloration is a warning to predators that they’re toxic. That even goes for the insects on this list.
Avoid Hairy Things:
Avoid hairy bugs; there may be stingers nestled in the fuzz.
Avoid Smelly Things:
Also avoid any bugs that have a potent smell (except, paradoxically, stinkbugs).
When in doubt:
If you are ever in doubt about an insect’s edibility, cut off a tiny, cooked piece of it, swallow it, and wait a few hours. If you don’t develop any symptoms, eat a larger piece and wait again. If nothing happens, it’s probably fine.
No bug sushi: We can’t stress this enough. Whenever possible, you should cook your insects before you eat them. They may carry parasites or harmful bacteria that cooking will kill, and it improves flavor and makes the nutrients more digestible.
Source : Backpacker
Insects are actually the most abundant protein source on the planet, and many of them boast dense concentrations of nutrients like omega 3s.
Grasshoppers and crickets are extraordinarily protein-rich, and you can collect them pretty much anywhere. Most types of grasshoppers and crickets are edible, they can carry nematodes, so remember to cook them before you eat them.
Nematode, also called roundworm, any worm of the phylum Nematoda. Nematodes are among the most abundant animals on Earth. They occur as parasites in animals and plants or as free-living forms in soil, fresh water, marine environments, and even such unusual places as vinegar, beer malts, and water-filled cracks deep within Earth’s crust. Nematodes are bilaterally symmetrical, elongate, and usually tapered at both ends.
Nematodes can cause a variety of diseases (such as filariasis, ascariasis, and trichinosis) and parasitize many crop plants and domesticated animals.
Poisonous Grasshoppers :
While the majority of grasshoppers are safe to eat, there are a few exceptions. Avoid any brightly-colored specimens, such as the eastern lubber (common in Texas and some other southern states), which can make you sick.
How to Eat Them :
To prepare crickets and grasshoppers, pull off their heads and the entrails should come with; discard both. The entrails are edible, but removing them reduces the risk of parasite transmission. For this reason, always cook the bugs before eating them.
Remove the wings and legs. Dry roast them if you have a pan, or skewer them and roast over flame if you don’t. You can char them if you prefer.
Ants :
Most ant species are edible, their flavor is pleasantly sour. This is because ants secrete an acid when threatened, giving them a vinegar-like flavor. In Colombia ants are roasted with salt (crunchy salt-and-vinegar ants!) and eaten at feasts. The queen ants are preferred there, having big juicy butts (more fat). In Colombian folk culture, queen ants are said to boost libido.
Ant larvae are also fantastic, having no sour flavor. They can often be found in clumps under rocks, or on top of anthills when they are being moved or kept warm.
The ant larvae and pupae are collected and processed into bird food and fish bait in Indonesia, are used in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine, and consumed as a delicacy in Thailand and other countries.
One good way to collect them is to hit an anthill or other habitat (like a rotting log) with a stick a of couple times, then put the end of the stick in the opening. As ants rush to bite the stick, dunk it into a container of water, ideally the container you want to cook them in. Repeat until you have a few hundred.
How to Eat them :
Capture as many as you can, putting them straight into the water so that they drown while you catch more. Once you’ve caught a sizeable portion, boil them for about six minutes. This will neutralize the acid in their bodies. If you have to eat them raw, just make sure they’re dead first so they don’t bite you.
Termites :
Termites are a great source of protein, and since they live most of their lives buried away in wood, they are less likely to carry parasites than other insects. Mature adult termites have wings and can fly. The other stages (larvae, workers, soldiers, nymphs, queens, etc) can’t fly, so they’re easier to snag. In some cultures, termite queens are regarded as a delicacy.
How to Catch Them :
Termites love wood and it is their main food source. Look for a decomposing wood break open the punky log and grab them or shake them out fast. As soon as they see light, they’ll crawl deeper into the wood.
How to Eat :
Them Roast them in a dry pan. You want these critters cooked up crispy.
Grubs :
When someone says “grub,” they’re typically referring to the larval stage of a beetle. There are over 344 grub species consumed around the globe, including the witchetty grub in Australia, palm weevil grubs in some Asian countries, giant water bugs in North America, and mopane worms in Africa. Some of them are small and crunchy, like mealworms, and some are fat and juicy, like rhinoceros beetle larva.
The best place to collect them is in rotting logs. You can also try stripping bark off of living trees, or searching under rocks and leaf litter.
How to Eat Them :
Skewer them lengthwise with a long stick and cook over an open flame until the skin is crispy.
Maggots :
Grubs and maggots are a bit different, even if they’re both pretty gnarly and maybe not prime snack material. Grubs are fat, juicy, and usually white in color. Maggots are thin, yellow-brownish, and legless. “Grub” usually refers to beetle larvae, while “maggot” usually refers to fly larvae. They are both edible.
There are many different types of maggots. Some maggots live in rotting flesh and spoiled meat. While rotting meat isn’t safe to eat, the maggots are (but cook them first!). They also tend to live in rotting vegetables and fruit. Some even live in water. Maggots are incredibly high in protein and other beneficial nutrients.
Find a source to harvest them from or if you’ve got time, and some spoiled fruit, you can create your own by leaving it out.
How to Eat Them :
Boil or saute to kill any potential lingering germs.
Wood Lice :
Also called “sow bugs,” “potato bugs,” “roly polies,” or “pill bugs,” woodlice are actually not a bug at all. They’re the only terrestrial crustacean in North America and have a flavor that’s similar to shrimp. In fact, they’re even called “land shrimp” sometimes. They are extremely easy to collect. Overturn rocks and logs or sift through dead leaves, and you’re sure to find some.
How to Eat Them :
Drop them in boiling water, and leave them there for a while. They can carry nematodes, better known as parasitic roundworms, so be sure they’re thoroughly cooked. When they’re done, strain the water out and eat.
Earthworms :
Are worms technically bugs? No. Not even close. But they are edible. You’ve probably played with these more than you’ve eaten them. However, things are about to change since, well, you’re here. If push comes to shove, you can go scrounging for these wriggly morsels. Maybe thinking of them as free-range, very fresh spaghetti will help them slide down your gullet easier. Remember to squish out the poop before you eat them.
If it just rained, spotting these wigglers should be pretty easy. They’ll be everywhere. If it hasn’t just rained, ferret about for them in damp soil, in decomposing flora (such as leaves and wood), or under rocks.
How to Eat Them :
While worms can be eaten raw in an emergency, you should cook them if at all possible. Like most of the things on this list, they can potentially carry parasites and the parasite potential should motivate you to cook them first. Not to mention the extremely unpleasant prospect of eating a live worm.
Stinkbugs :
Yep, believe it or not, stinkbugs are edible. Generally speaking, you shouldn’t eat noxiously odiferous bugs.
Stinkbugs, however, are the exception. They’re just fine to send down that hatch (after you cook them, of course). They are even considered a delicacy in Mexico, where there’s an annual festival in Taxco to celebrate them.
In the winter, you will probably find them hiding under rocks, logs, or other cover. Otherwise, you’ll see them parading arrogantly across open ground. You’ll recognize them because they look like a traditional medieval shield, straight across on the top and coming to a point on the bottom.
How to Eat Them :
Some people eat them raw, but maybe try not to be one of those people if you can. To rid stinkbugs of their stinkitude, soak them in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes, and then cook extensively by roasting in a dry pan. They are said to have an “iodine” taste.
Scorpions :
Scorpions are a common street food in China and can be found in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and other Southwestern states. They taste a bit like crab.
If you decide to dine on scorpion, make sure that you cut the stinger off first. Usually the venom is produced and stored in the top two or so segments of the tail. And make sure you cook them! Cooking generally negates the venom’s poisonous properties, but you can still have an allergic reaction to it. Unlike a bee or wasp, you’re not likely to get stung by a scorpion after it’s dead. If you’ve never eaten scorpion before, however, it might be best to avoid these, but if you’re in a survival situation, you might not have a choice.
These living, dangerous thumbtacks reside in dens. They’ll be low to the ground, burrowed under overhanging rocks or logs.
How to Eat Them :
Roast over a fire or coals until it’s well browned.
Earwigs :
Earwigs are edible and safe to eat. They don’t have stingers. They don’t have venom. They look like a cross between an ant (the head portion) and a scorpion (the pincher bits), and are about the size of one of those flattened pennies you get at a fair. When agitated, they might try to attack with their pinchers, but those pinches usually don’t break the skin or even hurt very much. These guys are pretty easy to find by just looking under logs and things that look like they’ve been undisturbed for a while is a good place to start. They like dark, wet places.
How to Eat Them :
Get your fire roarin’ (or purring, it’s up to you). Sauteé your dinner. You want your ‘wigs nice and crispy.
Once they’re fully cooked, you’re good to enjoy your dinner.
Dragonflies :
Dragonflies are the most common in the spring and summer months. They more or less have two life-cycle stages: nymph and adult. Both of these stages are edible, though one is much easier to catch than the other.
While they’re in their nymph stage, they’re often green, about the size of the fist two segments of your pointer finger, and water-borne. Much easier to catch when they can’t zoom away! Dragonfly larvae live in water and are more common in the spring and summer months. Their adult stage is what you’re used to seeing: a fully grown dragonfly. These are edible, but can be a pain to catch because of how fast and dexterous that are.
How to Eat Them :
You only need to cook these for a few seconds, just enough to kill any germs. Pulling the wings and legs off is optional but might make them literally easier to swallow.
Cicada :
They sing, they soar, they swarm, they… make for a tasty snack? Brood X cicadas have descended upon the Eastern United States for the first time in 17 years, and they’re showing up on some peoples’ plates.
Entomophagy :
The eating of insects, is common around the world, especially in parts of Asia and Africa, as many insects have been found to be an excellent source of essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins and proteins. They’re thought to be a healthy, sustainable alternative to meat.
But before you start collecting the bugs, be aware of the risks: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not recommend consuming cicadas if you have a seafood allergy, as cicadas are actually pretty similar to shrimp and lobsters and could potentially cause a reaction.
Who should avoid them :
Who shouldn’t eat cicadas, first things eating cicadas is not for everyone. You should avoid consuming these crunchy critters if you fall into any of the following groups ........
People with shellfish allergies :
Cicadas, sometimes referred to as “land shrimp,” are a derivative of shellfish, so stay away from them if you have a known allergy.
People who are pregnant or lactating :
Shellfish are bio-accumulators of mercury, which can harm a developing baby’s brain. Though you probably wouldn’t eat enough cicadas to ingest harmful levels of mercury, it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Young children :
Mercury can negatively impact children’s neurological development, so keep kids away from cicada snacks.
Anyone at risk for gout :
If you’ve struggled with gout (a form of inflammatory arthritis) in the past, don’t eat cicadas, which may cause gout flare-ups.
For people who don’t fall into any of those categories, cicadas are absolutely safe to eat.
And though there’s little formal data on the nutritional value of cicadas, Czerwony compares them to crickets, which are eaten by people around the world. “Both insects are very high in protein and low in fat.
If you’re going to eat cicadas, though, it’s important to collect them from an area that hasn’t been subjected to toxins. Their teneral and nymph stages are ideal for eating.
Young cicadas, called tenerals, are generally best to eat because their bodies haven’t hardened yet.
“Remember: They’ve been in the ground for 17 years, so they’ve been able to absorb pesticides, lawn fertilizers, and any other chemical that is put on the lawn. If you are in a place which had been chemically treated, head someplace a little bit more wild and untouched to collect cicadas for eating.
Before you cook them (usually by boiling, blanching, frying, or roasting), remove hard parts like wings and legs.
Insects are nutritious (cicadas, for example, are low in calories, high in iron and protein), sustainable (they don't harm the environment and eat little) and a great way for us to feel connected to Mother Nature.
The little bugs are surprisingly meaty, wonderfully crunchy.
Survival in the wild part 2
Edible Bugs You Probably Want to Avoid Eating ....
These bugs are edible, but either harder to find or riskier to collect and eat. You may want to exercise caution before eating these, or at least know what you’re getting yourself into.
• Slugs and snails
• Tarantulas
• Bees and wasps
• Caterpillars
Slugs and Snails :
While their flesh is benign, there’s a high enough likelihood that they’ve fed on something toxic, like poisonous plants or mushrooms to make eating them inadvisable.
The ones that you eat in a restaurant have been fed safe-to-eat plants; the people preparing them know exactly what those snails were eating. The same can’t be said of an in-the-wild snail’s diet.
If you eat wild snails or slugs, you risk contracting rat lungworm, which can turn into eosinophilic meningitis (causing severe brain and nervous system damage). These diseases usually hide in the digestive tract of the slugs and snails, so cooking them won’t necessarily guarantee that they’re disease-free system.
If snails are your only meal option, you can also feed them plants you know aren’t poisonous for a week before eating them. Then be sure to cook them thoroughly.
Tarantulas :
Fun fact: fried spider is a delicacy in Cambodia. Remove as much hair as you can, and don’t eat the fangs. If you cook them, curled legs are an indicator of how done they are and how well cooked the insides are. One of the most common edible spiders is the Thai zebra spider, but it is venomous and aggressive.
Bees and Wasps :
Cut off the stingers and legs. Cook well. But be forewarned: These fliers are dangerous to catch. If risking stings is worth it (or you don’t have another choice), you can try plugging the hive, and then smoke the whole thing with some sort of improvised torch to kill everything inside. These are on the “honorable mention” list only because they’re hard to catch and will attack you without remorse. That said, bee larvae can be eaten, and they’re less likely to fight back.
Telltale Signs a Bug Might Kill You :
While the majority of bugs are safe to eat, there are a few precautions you should take:
Avoid Bright Colors:
Don’t eat any insects that are brightly colored; their coloration is a warning to predators that they’re toxic. That even goes for the insects on this list.
Avoid Hairy Things:
Avoid hairy bugs; there may be stingers nestled in the fuzz.
Avoid Smelly Things:
Also avoid any bugs that have a potent smell (except, paradoxically, stinkbugs).
When in doubt:
If you are ever in doubt about an insect’s edibility, cut off a tiny, cooked piece of it, swallow it, and wait a few hours. If you don’t develop any symptoms, eat a larger piece and wait again. If nothing happens, it’s probably fine.
No bug sushi: We can’t stress this enough. Whenever possible, you should cook your insects before you eat them. They may carry parasites or harmful bacteria that cooking will kill, and it improves flavor and makes the nutrients more digestible.
Source : Backpacker