식용 곤충: 저녁 식사를 위해 나방

나는 항상 세계의 많은 장소에서하는 것으로 알려져있다, 특히 흔하지, 나방과 나비의 유충은 메뉴에있는. 에서 아프리카 에 호주 합리적으로 식용 또는 맛있는 것으로 충분히 좋은 맛을 수도 수십 종의가있다. 그러나 여기 미국은 이제까지 그것을 우리의 테이블에 만들 경우 거의 곤충 없다 (적어도하지 우리의 지식에) – 하지만 때때로 우리의 병에. 나는 확실히 당신의 많은 사람들이 데킬라 병의 하단에있는 벌레를 본 것을 해요: 이는 실제로 Cossid 나방의 애벌레입니다 Hypotpa의 agavis. 난 이주 멕시코 노동자 관련 나방의 대형 핑크 유충에 간식에 자신의 점심 시간에 토종 식물을 파고 있다는보고를 들었습니다; 아마 속에서 Comadran. 내 이전의 지식에도 불구하고, 나는 나비목의 거대한 다양성을 논의 최근 기사에 놀라게 조금 멕시코 전역 상식 소스로 사용했다.

(위키 백과)

This study recently published in the Journal of Ethnobiology outlines a total of 67 종 regularly utilized by indigenous populations of Mexico. 67! Even more stunning is the occasional use of adults and even what I would consider as noxious species. When comparing similar studies this is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind and involved first hand field research. Previous authors cited have only done limited field work or relied strictly on bibliographic work, limiting their results. 만 17 of the 31 Mexican states were covered, leaving many areas still unexplored but likely to further increase the number of edible Lepidoptera. Most importantly you can infer from these results that world wide consumption of Lepidoptera is greatly under reported. It doesn’t come as too surprising however since large juicy caterpillars are protein rich and easily harvested. Some even come in a a ready made pouch. (As an aside, these social lepidoptera are very interesting and form canvass like tents that are nearly impenetrable).

I wish there was an accompanying cookbook and more lengthy descriptions of how these caterpillars are prepared. They do mention that the two most common methods are a simple pan fry or boiled in salted water. I would imagine that some animals require a special technique, or at the very least chased with something better tasting. But like all foods, some have risen to the level of delicacy. 그만큼 “white agave worm” (Comadia redtenbacheri) is canned and exported to the US, selling for $250 per kilo or $50 a can!

The authors note that seven of the sixty seven are surprisingly eaten as adults; including the Monarch butterfly which is famously noxious. How these are palatable is beyond me, but no mention is given as to how or why they are prepared. Also eaten as an adult is the multi-tailed swallowtail (이하, from 미국의 나비). I see these in the field all the time in Arizona so maybe I’ll have to grab one for a snack… But watch out for the caterpillars because they are reported to “make the heart stop”.

Another surprising find is the use of Hemileuca 과 Hylesia caterpillars. These stout Saturniidae are covered in dense urticating hairs or spines that can cause horrible rashes (somewhat graphic image). How are these prepared? The spines of Hemileuca are tough and not simply hairs that can be brushed or burned off, and the hairs of Hylesia are reported to cause contact dermatitis!

I’m a pretty adventurous eater and I wouldn’t say no to most of these leps. 지옥, if you put it on a taco I’d be done before you could tell me what was in it. But this study is important in the understanding of the utility and importance of Lepidoptera and insects in the daily lives of cultures. Preservation of diversity doesn’t just help keep pretty butterflies in the air, but meals on the table.

참조

ILLGNER, P., & NEL, 과. (2000). The Geography of Edible Insects in Sub-Saharan Africa: a study of the Mopane Caterpillar The Geographical Journal, 166 (4), 336-351 DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4959.2000.tb00035.x

Ramos-Elorduy J, Moreno JM, Vazquez AI, Landero I, Oliva-Rivera H, & Camacho VH (2011). Edible Lepidoptera in Mexico: Geographic distribution, ethnicity, economic and nutritional importance for rural people. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, 7 (1) PMID: 21211040