Zeitschrift für Biodiversität, Bioprospektion und Entwicklung

Diversity of Edible Insects and Practices of Entomophagy in India: An Overview

Abstract

Jharna Chakravorty

Insects, a traditional food in many parts of the world, are highly nutritious and especially rich in proteins and these represent a potential food and protein source. The ethnic people of India also consume insects as food. A review on the practices of entomophagy in India revealed that about 255 species of insects are taken as food by different tribes of India. Among these edible species of insects, consumption of coleopteran species was highest constituting about 34%; followed by Orthoptera (24%); Hemiptera (17%); Hymanoptera (10%); Odonatae (8%); Lepidoptera (4%); Isoptera (2%) and the least was Ephimeroptera (1%). Food insects are chosen by members of various tribes according to their traditional beliefs, taste, regional and seasonal availability of the edible insects. Depending on the species, only certain, but sometimes all, developmental stages are consumed. Preparation of the edible insects for consumption involves mainly roasting or boiling. Sometimes spices are added to enhance the taste. Practice of entomophagy is quite common among the ethnic people of North East India particularly among the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland and to a lesser extent by the tribes of Meghalaya and Mizoram. Comparatively this practice is much lower (constituting about one to five insect species) among the ethnic people of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha of South and Central part of India. Therefore, there is an urgent need to focus on the studies related to entomophagy, and to promote entomophagy/ethno-entomological research to document all edible insects and their mode of consumption by various tribal communities in India.