Edible-insects
Guides
Carebara
Marauder Ants, Carebara Thief Ants
Carebara is a large genus of myrmicine ants comprising over 200 species distributed worldwide in tropical and Afrotropical regions. These ants are among the smallest known, with workers often barely visible to the naked eye. The genus exhibits remarkable worker polymorphism, including specialized soldier castes with phragmotic (door-blocking) head shapes in some African species. Queens are notably much larger than workers, creating one of the most extreme size dimorphisms in ants. Many species are cryptic inhabitants of soil and leaf litter, with poorly known biology.
Comadia
agave red worm (larvae of C. redtenbacheri), chinicuil (larvae of C. redtenbacheri), gusano rojo del maguey (larvae of C. redtenbacheri)
Comadia is a genus of carpenter moths (Cossidae) established in 1911, comprising 11 described species distributed in North America, particularly Mexico. The genus is best known for Comadia redtenbacheri, whose larvae are economically significant as edible insects (chinicuil or gusano rojo del maguey) and agricultural pests of Agave species. Larvae are internal borers of agave tissues, with a long, non-uniform life cycle exceeding one year. Adults are nocturnal with documented calling and mating behaviors. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision and molecular studies to clarify species boundaries.
Cossidae
carpenter millers, cossid millers, goat moths, carpenter moths
Cossidae, commonly known as carpenter millers or goat moths, is a family of large moths in the order Lepidoptera. The family contains over 110 genera with nearly 700 described species, with many more awaiting description. Members are found worldwide and are predominantly nocturnal, with the exception of the Southeast Asian subfamily Ratardinae. The family includes some of the largest moths by mass, such as Endoxyla cinereus, which can weigh up to 30 grams with a wingspan reaching 23 centimeters. Many species are economically significant as wood-boring pests, while others have cultural importance as food sources.
Dytiscidae
predaceous diving beetles, diving beetles
Dytiscidae, the predaceous diving beetles, is a family of aquatic beetles containing over 4,000 described species. Adults range from 0.9 mm to 4.75 cm in length, with most species between 1–2.5 cm. They are characterized by enlarged, flattened hind legs adapted for swimming and a streamlined, oval body shape that reduces drag underwater. The family exhibits remarkable chemical ecology, producing unique defensive steroids found nowhere else in the animal kingdom. Larvae, known as "water tigers," are elongate predators with sharp, pincer-like mandibles that inject digestive enzymes into prey.
Gryllidea
crickets
Gryllidea is an infraorder within the suborder Ensifera comprising crickets and their relatives. The group contains two superfamilies—Grylloidea (true crickets, tree crickets, scaly crickets, and allies) and Gryllotalpoidea (mole crickets and ant crickets)—encompassing more than 6,000 described species globally. Members are characterized by acoustic communication through stridulation, with males producing species-specific songs to attract mates. The infraorder originated in the Triassic period approximately 250–200 million years ago and represents the third most diverse group within Orthoptera.
cricketsOrthopteraEnsiferaacoustic-communicationstridulationmole-cricketsant-cricketsmyrmecophilybioacousticsedible-insectsagricultural-pesthousehold-pestTriassic-originhemimetabolous-developmentkleptoparasitismchemical-mimicryautotomythigmotaxisinvasive-speciesDiestrammena-asynamoraAcheta-domesticusGryllodes-sigillatusGryllus-firmusParagordius-variushost-parasite-interactionsmitochondrial-genomicspositive-selectioncox1Nearctic-faunaYunnan-biodiversityurban-ecologysoil-ecosystem-engineeringdecomposerfood-securityalternative-proteinGryllodes sigillatus
Tropical house cricket, Indian house cricket, banded cricket
Gryllodes sigillatus is a small cricket species widely farmed for human consumption and animal feed, particularly as a sustainable protein source. Native to Southwestern Asia, it has spread throughout tropical regions worldwide and is commonly associated with human habitations. The species has gained prominence in commercial insect farming due to its resistance to Acheta domesticus densovirus (AdDNV), which devastated populations of the common house cricket. It serves as a model organism in behavioral and evolutionary ecology research, particularly for studies on mating systems, sexual selection, and neurobiology.
Hepialidae
Ghost moths, Swift moths
Hepialidae, commonly known as ghost moths or swift moths, comprise approximately 700 species in 82 genera and represent the most diverse family of the infraorder Exoporia. These moths exhibit numerous ancestral characteristics, including very short antennae, absence of a functional proboscis, and homoneurous wing structure with similar forewings and hindwings. Species range dramatically in size from small moths to a record wingspan of 250 mm in Zelotypia. The family shows highest diversity in ancient landmasses, particularly Australia, South Africa, and Chile, reflecting their Gondwanan origins. Many species display pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males typically smaller but more boldly marked than females.
Hepialoidea
Ghost Moths, Swift Moths
Hepialoidea is a superfamily of moths comprising over 650 species in approximately 70 genera, commonly known as ghost moths and swift moths. The group is characterized by primitive morphological features including a regressed haustellum (reduced proboscis), short antennae, and distinctive wing venation with a displaced Rs3 vein. Hepialoidea has a cosmopolitan distribution except for Madagascar and Antarctica, with greatest diversity in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly southern South America, southern Africa, and the Australian region. The superfamily includes several families, with Hepialidae being the most species-rich; fossil evidence suggests an origin in the mid-Jurassic with Hepialidae diverging by the mid-Cretaceous approximately 95 million years ago.
Liometopum apiculatum
Escamolera Ant, Velvet Tree Ant
Liometopum apiculatum is a Neotropical dolichoderine ant with significant ecological and economic importance. Colonies are large and polydomous, ranging from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands of workers. The species is notable for its distinctive carton-like nest construction and its role as a traditional food source in Mexico, where the larvae and pupae (escamoles) are harvested. It inhabits diverse arid and semi-arid vegetation types across southwestern North America.
Protaetia
flower chafers
Protaetia is a large genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Cetoniinae, containing over 300 species distributed primarily across Asia. Commonly known as flower chafers, these beetles are characterized by their often metallic or colorful appearance. Several species have economic and cultural significance: Protaetia orientalis is an invasive pest in Hawaii where it complicates detection of the damaging coconut rhinoceros beetle, while Protaetia brevitarsis is traditionally consumed as food in southern China and Southeast Asia and has been studied for its potential immune-enhancing properties. The genus has been documented as attracted to fermenting baits in field studies.
Rhinostomus
yucca weevils, bearded weevil, bottle brush weevil
Rhinostomus is a genus of weevils in the family Dryophthoridae, tribe Rhinostomini. The genus contains approximately eight species distributed across the Neotropics. Several species, particularly R. barbirostris, are significant pests of palms (Arecaceae), causing damage through larval and adult feeding that can lead to palm mortality. The genus was formerly known as Yuccaborus, which was synonymized with Rhinostomus in 2002.
Statilia maculata
Asian jumping mantis, 小蟷螂, ko-kamakiri, 좀사마귀, joem-sa-ma-gui
Statilia maculata is a medium-sized praying mantis native to East Asia, commonly known as the Asian jumping mantis. Adults range from 40–50 mm (males) to 45–58 mm (females). The species inhabits low-lying vegetation including weeds and shrubs, distinguishing it from canopy-dwelling relatives. First described by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1784 from specimens thought to be from eastern India, it is now recognized across a broad Asian range. The species exhibits notable sexual dimorphism in cercal structure, with females possessing more articles and longer cerci than males.