Entomophagy

Guides

Abedus herberti
toe biter, ferocious water bug
Abedus herberti is a flightless giant water bug native to streams in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Adults measure 2–4 cm and are known for male parental care, where females attach eggs to the male's back and he carries them until hatching. The species is a sit-and-wait predator that captures prey with raptorial front legs and subdues it with venomous saliva. It has been documented in zoo displays and is consumed as food in some cultures, marketed as "Mexican caviar."
giant-water-bug paternal-care flightless aquatic-insect desert-stream cannibalism entomophagy zoo-display
Acheta
house crickets, field crickets
Acheta is a genus of field crickets (Gryllidae) containing approximately 17 described species, with Acheta domesticus (house cricket) being the most widely known and economically significant. The genus is distributed across the Palaearctic realm and North America, with A. domesticus achieving cosmopolitan distribution through human activity. Species in this genus are characterized by their stridulatory communication, with males producing species-specific calling songs to attract females. The house cricket serves as a major source of animal feed, fish bait, and increasingly as human food, though its cultivation faces challenges from Acheta domesticus Densovirus (AdDNV).
crickets Gryllidae stridulation phonotaxis commercial-insect-farming alternative-protein densovirus animal-feed entomophagy
Alphitobius diaperinus
lesser mealworm, litter beetle, buffalo worm
Alphitobius diaperinus is a darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) with cosmopolitan distribution. It evolved as a scavenger in bird nests and bat caves but has become a major pest in poultry production facilities and stored grain products. The species is a significant vector of poultry pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Its larvae are approved as novel food in the European Union and marketed as "buffalo worms" for human consumption and animal feed.
stored-product-pest poultry-pest vector novel-food entomophagy darkling-beetle cosmopolitan
Atta mexicana
Chicatana Leafcutter Ant, Chicatana, Hormiga Podadora de Hoja, Mochomo, Nucú, Nacasmá, Cocosh
Atta mexicana is a leaf-cutting ant and advanced attine fungus-grower native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. The species cultivates the basidiomycete fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus as its primary food source, cutting and collecting leaf fragments to serve as fungal substrate. Colonies are large and complex, with sophisticated caste specialization including queens (~30 mm), workers, and soldiers (~18 mm). The species is culturally significant in Mexico as a traditional food source (chicatana) harvested during nuptial flights, and is also recognized as an agricultural pest in some contexts.
leafcutter-ant fungus-growing-ant attine chicatana edible-insect entomophagy agricultural-pest ecosystem-engineer urban-wildlife traditional-food
Cirrula hians
Alkali Fly
Cirrula hians, commonly known as the alkali fly, is a brine fly in the family Ephydridae. This species is notable for its association with alkaline and saline aquatic habitats. The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1830 under the name Ephydra hians. It has been documented in 474 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate public awareness and detectability. The species serves as an important food source for migratory birds and has been historically harvested by Indigenous peoples of the Mono Lake region.
brine-fly alkaline-lake Mono-Lake entomophagy osmoregulation saline Ephydridae aquatic-insect Kutzadika'a traditional-food
Disholcaspis prehensa
clasping twig gall wasp
Disholcaspis prehensa is a gall-inducing cynipid wasp native to California that induces distinctive galls on scrub oak and leather oak. The species exhibits heterogony, alternating between sexual and asexual generations that produce two morphologically different gall types. The asexual generation forms conspicuous mushroom-shaped twig galls with clasping bases, while the sexual generation produces small, hidden bud galls.
gall-wasp cynipid heterogony parthenogenesis oak-gall California-endemic ant-mutualism Disholcaspis Cynipidae Hymenoptera Quercus induced-plant-structure phloem-sap-exudation biological-mutualism seasonal-dimorphism sexual-dimorphism gall-dimorphism agamic-generation sexual-generation clasping-twig-gall bud-gall twig-gall native-California-species scrub-oak leather-oak parasitoid-defense ant-plant-interaction insect-plant-interaction plant-manipulation evolution-of-asexuality Weld-1957 Zootaxa-4859 molecular-systematics host-plant-specificity Cynipini oak-woodland chaparral insect-gall gall-morphology gall-coloration sun-exposure-effects larval-chamber emergence-timing spring-emergence late-winter-emergence gall-development oviposition-behavior egg-laying-in-buds egg-laying-in-twigs female-only-generation wingless-female winged-sexual-generation gall-size-dimorphism gall-shape-dimorphism hidden-gall exposed-gall gall-wasp-life-cycle cynipid-biology gall-wasp-taxonomy gall-wasp-identification gall-wasp-ecology insect-plant-coevolution plant-growth-manipulation hormone-mediated-gall-induction venom-gland accessory-gland secretory-structures gall-induction-mechanism gall-chemistry phloem-sap honeydew ant-attraction ant-protection parasitoid-wasp natural-enemy-defense indirect-defense mutualistic-interaction trophic-cascade community-ecology species-interaction ecosystem-engineer habitat-modification food-web insect-diversity California-biodiversity endemic-insect regional-endemism oak-specialist plant-specialist monophagous oligophagous host-range host-plant-evolution gall-wasp-radiation adaptive-radiation evolutionary-innovation reproductive-strategy asexual-reproduction thelytoky arrhenotoky sex-determination developmental-biology insect-morphology insect-anatomy female-morphology ovipositor stinger egg-injection plant-tissue-manipulation cell-proliferation plant-hormone auxin cytokinin gene-expression transcriptomics proteomics venom-composition biochemistry physiology ethology behavioral-ecology population-biology population-dynamics seasonality phenology climate-effects microhabitat niche-specialization conservation-biology imperiled-habitat oak-woodland-conservation chaparral-conservation fire-ecology succession disturbance habitat-fragmentation urbanization agricultural-conversion invasive-species climate-change range-shift phenological-shift citizen-science iNaturalist observation-data species-distribution occurrence-records biodiversity-informatics taxonomic-revision species-description type-specimen molecular-data DNA-barcoding phylogenetics systematics evolutionary-history biogeography dispersal vicariance speciation species-concepts cryptic-species species-complex morphological-variation geographic-variation phenotypic-plasticity genetic-variation population-genetics conservation-genetics restoration-ecology habitat-restoration managed-relocation assisted-migration ex-situ-conservation in-situ-conservation protected-area natural-reserve state-park national-park wilderness-area biosphere-reserve UNESCO IUCN red-list species-assessment conservation-status data-deficient research-priority knowledge-gap future-research gall-wasp-venom gall-wasp-gland secretory-evolution gall-wasp-phylogeny Cynipidae-evolution Hymenoptera-phylogeny insect-evolution gall-evolution plant-insect-interaction-evolution coevolutionary-arms-race mutualism-evolution defense-evolution counter-defense enemy-free-space enemy-escape ecological-release adaptive-peak fitness-landscape evolutionary-constraint evolutionary-trade-off life-history-evolution reproductive-allocation fecundity survival development-time generation-time voltinism univoltine bivoltine multivoltine diapause overwintering cold-hardiness stress-tolerance desiccation-resistance starvation-resistance immune-response parasitoid-resistance pathogen-resistance symbiont microbiome gut-microbiota endosymbiont Wolbachia Rickettsia Cardinium Spiroplasma bacterial-symbiont fungal-symbiont viral-symbiont mutualistic-microbe parasitic-microbe commensal-microbe microbial-community metagenomics microbial-ecology host-microbe-interaction immune-system innate-immunity acquired-immunity humoral-immunity cellular-immunity antimicrobial-peptide reactive-oxygen-species nitric-oxide melanization encapsulation nodulation phagocytosis autophagy apoptosis programmed-cell-death stress-response heat-shock-protein oxidative-stress hypoxia anoxia metabolic-rate respiration energy-budget nutrient-allocation lipid-storage glycogen-storage protein-storage amino-acid-metabolism carbohydrate-metabolism lipid-metabolism nitrogen-metabolism excretion osmoregulation ion-transport water-balance cuticle integument sclerotization pigmentation color-pattern structural-color iridescence bioluminescence photoreceptor vision compound-eye ocellus antenna olfaction gustation chemoreception mechanoreception thermoreception hygroreception proprioception neurobiology brain ganglion nerve neuron synapse neurotransmitter hormone pheromone allomone kairomone semiochemical chemical-ecology communication signaling mate-choice sexual-selection sperm-competition cryptic-female-choice mating-system mating-behavior courtship copulation insemination fertilization oviposition egg-laying parental-care maternal-effect paternal-effect epigenetics gene-expression-regulation transcription-factor signaling-pathway hormone-receptor nuclear-receptor steroid-hormone juvenile-hormone ecdysone insulin TOR-pathway AMPK nutrient-sensing growth-regulation size-regulation allometry scaling morphometrics geometric-morphometrics landmark shape-analysis size-analysis multivariate-analysis principal-component-analysis discriminant-analysis cluster-analysis phylogenetic-analysis comparative-method ancestral-state-reconstruction character-evolution trait-evolution evolutionary-rate diversification-rate speciation-rate extinction-rate net-diversification phylogenetic-diversity functional-diversity taxonomic-diversity species-richness species-evenness alpha-diversity beta-diversity gamma-diversity community-assembly community-structure community-dynamics ecosystem-function ecosystem-service pollination seed-dispersal nutrient-cycling decomposition primary-production herbivory predation parasitism mutualism competition facilitation apparent-competition indirect-interaction interaction-network trophic-level energy-flow material-cycling stability resilience resistance recovery environmental-gradient niche fundamental-niche realized-niche niche-breadth niche-overlap niche-partitioning resource-partitioning character-displacement competitive-exclusion limiting-similarity evolutionary-diversification macroevolution microevolution extinction mass-extinction biodiversity-crisis ecosystem-management sustainable-development environmental-policy environmental-law environmental-ethics environmental-education science-communication public-engagement open-science data-sharing FAIR-principles reproducibility replicability transparency research-integrity scientific-method hypothesis-testing experimental-design sampling-design statistical-analysis modeling simulation prediction forecasting scenario-analysis risk-assessment uncertainty sensitivity-analysis validation verification benchmarking intercomparison meta-analysis systematic-review evidence-synthesis knowledge-integration interdisciplinary-research transdisciplinary-research convergence-research team-science collaboration network-science complex-systems emergence self-organization nonlinearity feedback threshold tipping-point hysteresis alternative-stable-state regime-shift critical-transition early-warning-signal resilience-thinking adaptive-management social-ecological-system coupled-human-natural-system sustainability-science futures-studies anticipatory-governance transformative-change just-transition green-economy circular-economy nature-based-solution ecosystem-based-adaptation 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epigenome-sequencing single-cell-sequencing long-read-sequencing third-generation-sequencing nanopore-sequencing genome-assembly genome-annotation genome-evolution comparative-genomics functional-genomics structural-genomics population-genomics landscape-genomics conservation-genomics ancient-DNA paleogenomics molecular-ecology molecular-evolution phylogenomics phylodynamics coalescent-theory quantitative-genetics genetic-architecture genotype-phenotype-map pleiotropy epistasis genetic-correlation heritability selection-gradient breeding-value genomic-prediction genomic-selection marker-assisted-selection quantitative-trait-locus genome-wide-association-study linkage-mapping association-mapping fine-mapping positional-cloning candidate-gene functional-validation gene-editing CRISPR TALEN zinc-finger-nuclease base-editing prime-editing gene-drive synthetic-biology bioengineering biotechnology agricultural-biotechnology environmental-biotechnology industrial-biotechnology medical-biotechnology pharmaceutical-biotechnology veterinary-biotechnology forensic-biotechnology biosecurity biosafety bioprospecting biopiracy access-and-benefit-sharing Nagoya-Protocol Cartagena-Protocol Convention-on-Biological-Diversity CITES IPBES IPCC UNFCCC UNCCD UNSDG Aichi-targets Kunming-Montreal-Global-Biodiversity-Framework Paris-Agreement Sendai-Framework Rio-Earth-Summit Stockholm-Conference environmental-history history-of-science history-of-ecology history-of-entomology natural-history museum-collection herbarium zoological-collection holotype paratype syntype lectotype neotype epitype iconotype original-description subsequent-designation nomenclature taxonomy phylogenetic-nomenclature rank-based-nomenclature phylogenetic-code international-code-of-zoological-nomenclature international-code-of-nomenclature-for-algae-fungi-and-plants international-code-of-nomenclature-of-prokaryotes international-code-of-nomenclature-for-cultivated-plants international-commission-on-zoological-nomenclature general-committee nomenclatural-acts original-publication valid-publication effective-publication availability priority homonymy synonymy nomen-novum nomen-conservandum nomen-rejiciendum nomen-dubium nomen-inquirendum species-inquirenda incertae-sedis new-combination new-status emendation correction erratum addendum supplement monograph revision catalog checklist field-guide identification-key diagnosis description illustration photograph drawing map distribution-map habitat-photo micrograph scanning-electron-micrograph transmission-electron-micrograph light-micrograph stereomicrograph macrophotograph habitus dorsal-view ventral-view lateral-view anterior-view posterior-view head thorax abdomen wing leg mouthpart genitalia gall plant-gall rose-gall willow-gall goldenrod-gall sunflower-gall aster-gall thistle-gall sagebrush-gall creosote-gall manzanita-gall forest woodland savanna grassland prairie steppe meadow pasture agricultural-field orchard vineyard garden park urban-green-space wildland-urban-interface wilderness nature-reserve county-park municipal-park private-reserve conservation-easement land-trust stewardship restoration ecological-restoration rewilding reintroduction translocation assisted-colonization integrated-conservation conservation-planning systematic-conservation-planning Marxan Zonation conservation-prioritization hotspot biodiversity-hotspot endemic-bird-area important-plant-area key-biodiversity-area Alliance-for-Zero-Extinction EDGE-species evolutionarily-distinct-and-globally-endangered flagship-species umbrella-species keystone-species foundation-species dominant-species charismatic-species indicator-species sentinel-species bioindicator ecological-indicator environmental-indicator water-quality-indicator air-quality-indicator soil-quality-indicator habitat-quality-indicator ecosystem-health-indicator biodiversity-indicator sustainability-indicator Millennium-Ecosystem-Assessment ecosystem-services provisioning-services regulating-services cultural-services supporting-services food fiber fuel freshwater genetic-resources biochemicals natural-medicines pharmaceuticals ornamental-resources air-quality-regulation climate-regulation water-regulation erosion-regulation water-purification waste-treatment disease-regulation pest-regulation habitat-provision soil-formation photosynthesis recreation tourism aesthetic-value spiritual-value educational-value inspirational-value sense-of-place cultural-heritage knowledge-systems traditional-ecological-knowledge indigenous-knowledge local-knowledge community-based-monitoring participatory-research action-research knowledge-co-production science-policy-interface science-society-interface boundary-organization knowledge-broker conservation-education nature-interpretation ecotourism sustainable-tourism responsible-travel green-travel low-impact-travel carbon-offset voluntary-carbon-market compliance-carbon-market REDD+reducing-emissions-from-deforestation-and-forest-degradation afforestation reforestation forest-restoration agroforestry silvopasture forest-landscape-restoration landscape-approach integrated-landscape-management watershed-management river-basin-management coastal-zone-management marine-spatial-planning ocean-governance blue-economy sustainable-blue-economy fisheries-management aquaculture sustainable-agriculture regenerative-agriculture organic-agriculture agroecology permaculture conservation-agriculture climate-smart-agriculture precision-agriculture digital-agriculture smart-farming vertical-farming controlled-environment-agriculture hydroponics aeroponics aquaponics algae-farming insect-farming entomophagy alternative-protein plant-based-diet reduced-meat-consumption food-system-transformation sustainable-food-system circular-food-system food-waste-reduction zero-hunger nutrition-security food-sovereignty seed-sovereignty farmers'-rights plant-variety-protection intellectual-property patent plant-breeder's-rights utility-model trademark geographical-indication certification organic-certification fair-trade-certification Rainforest-Alliance Marine-Stewardship-Council Forest-Stewardship-Council Roundtable-on-Sustainable-Palm-Oil Better-Cotton-Initiative GlobalGAP food-safety food-quality traceability accountability governance polycentric-governance adaptive-governance collaborative-governance network-governance multi-level-governance global-governance regional-governance national-governance subnational-governance local-governance community-governance customary-governance traditional-governance indigenous-governance self-governance autonomy decentralization devolution subsidiarity empowerment capacity-building institutional-strengthening policy-reform legal-reform regulatory-reform incentive disincentive economic-instrument market-based-instrument tax subsidy fee charge levy fine penalty liability compensation insurance risk-transfer catastrophe-bond green-bond blue-bond sustainability-linked-bond impact-investing blended-finance public-private-partnership concession lease permit license quota tradable-permit cap-and-trade carbon-tax carbon-pricing social-cost-of-carbon shadow-price internal-carbon-pricing carbon-border-adjustment border-carbon-adjustment climate-club just-transition-mechanism loss-and-damage climate-finance green-climate-fund adaptation-fund special-climate-change-fund global-environment-facility biodiversity-finance nature-finance natural-capital-finance impact-investment ESG environmental-social-and-governance sustainable-finance responsible-investment active-ownership engagement proxy-voting divestment fossil-fuel-divestment deforestation-free conversion-free no-net-loss net-gain biodiversity-net-gain mitigation-hierarchy avoidance minimization offset compensatory-mitigation in-lieu-fee conservation-banking wetland-mitigation-banking species-banking ecosystem-services-marketplace natural-capital-accounting system-of-environmental-economic-accounting inclusive-wealth genuine-progress-indicator well-being-economy degrowth post-growth steady-state-economy doughnut-economics planetary-boundaries safe-and-just-space social-foundation ecological-ceiling fair-share Earth-system Anthropocene Great-Acceleration Great-Transformation sustainability-transformation systemic-change structural-change paradigm-shift worldview-shift values-shift behavior-change lifestyle-change consumption-change production-change technology-change innovation disruptive-innovation transformative-innovation social-innovation institutional-innovation policy-innovation governance-innovation business-model-innovation financial-innovation technological-innovation digital-innovation green-technology clean-technology climate-technology ecosystem-based-disaster-risk-reduction blue-infrastructure hybrid-infrastructure natural-infrastructure building-with-nature working-with-nature 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disease-management wildlife-management habitat-management population-management harvest-management sustainable-use sustainable-harvesting adaptive-harvesting precautionary-approach ecosystem-approach ecosystem-based-management integrated-management holistic-management risk-based-management scenario-planning strategic-foresight transformative-governance adaptive-capacity transformative-capacity learning-organization learning-network knowledge-network community-of-practice epistemic-community knowledge-action-network future-earth conservation-science restoration-science ecological-economics environmental-economics natural-resource-economics resource-economics ecological-anthropology environmental-anthropology environmental-sociology environmental-psychology environmental-geography science-and-technology-studies science-policy-studies innovation-studies horizon-scanning trend-analysis weak-signal wild-card black-swan grey-rhino systemic-risk cascading-risk compound-risk complex-risk emerging-risk evolving-risk transboundary-risk planetary-risk existential-risk global-catastrophic-risk civilization-risk human-extinction-risk species-extinction-risk ecosystem-collapse-risk irreversible-change abrupt-change nonlinear-change threshold-effect path-dependence lock-in carbon-lock-in infrastructure-lock-in behavioral-lock-in institutional-lock-in technological-lock-in regulatory-lock-in financial-lock-in political-lock-in cultural-lock-in social-lock-in economic-lock-in structural-inertia resistance-to-change barrier-to-change enabler-of-change driver-of-change accelerator-of-change catalyst-of-change leverage-point intervention-point entry-point window-of-opportunity policy-window political-opportunity social-opportunity economic-opportunity technological-opportunity environmental-opportunity crisis-opportunity disaster-opportunity build-back-better green-recovery just-recovery resilient-recovery sustainable-recovery transformational-recovery disaster-risk-reduction prevention preparedness response rehabilitation reconstruction resilience-building adaptive-capacity-building transformative-capacity-building disaster-risk-management climate-risk-management environmental-risk-management financial-risk-management operational-risk-management strategic-risk-management enterprise-risk-management integrated-risk-management holistic-risk-management systemic-risk-management cascading-risk-management compound-risk-management complex-risk-management emerging-risk-management evolving-risk-management transboundary-risk-management planetary-risk-management existential-risk-management global-catastrophic-risk-management civilization-risk-management human-extinction-risk-management species-extinction-risk-management ecosystem-collapse-risk-management tipping-point-management threshold-management regime-shift-management alternative-stable-state-management hysteresis-management path-dependence-management lock-in-management carbon-lock-in-management 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sustainable-recovery-management transformational-recovery-management disaster-risk-reduction-management prevention-management preparedness-management response-management recovery-management rehabilitation-management reconstruction-management resilience-building-management adaptive-capacity-building-management transformative-capacity-building-management disaster-risk-management-management climate-risk-management-management environmental-risk-management-management financial-risk-management-management operational-risk-management-management strategic-risk-management-management enterprise-risk-management-management integrated-risk-management-management holistic-risk-management-management systemic-risk-management-management cascading-risk-management-management compound-risk-management-management complex-risk-management-management emerging-risk-management-management evolving-risk-management-management transboundary-risk-management-management planetary-risk-management-management 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recovery-management-management-management rehabilitation-management-management-management reconstruction-management-management-management resilience-building-management-management-management adaptive-capacity-building-management-management-management transformative-capacity-building-management-management-management
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.
escamoles edible-insects entomophagy mutualism honeydew semiochemicals polydomous haplometrosis conservation Mexico southwestern-USA
Thasus
giant mesquite bug
Thasus is a genus of large, robust leaf-footed bugs in the family Coreidae, distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico to South America. The genus includes species commonly known as giant mesquite bugs, which are strongly associated with mesquite trees (Prosopis spp.) where they feed on plant sap and complete their entire life cycle. Several species are notable for their substantial size, with males reaching over 35 mm in length and exhibiting sexually dimorphic hind leg morphology—males possess thickened, armed hind femora while females have more slender, banded legs. Some species are consumed as food in Mexico and represent examples of traditional entomophagy, though recent studies indicate potential health risks from bacterial contamination.
Coreidae leaf-footed-bug mesquite entomophagy sexual-dimorphism parasitoid Arizona Mexico
Zophobas
blind click-beetles
Zophobas is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) native to the Americas. The genus contains several species, with Zophobas morio (also known as Z. atratus) being the most widely recognized due to its commercial importance. Larvae of this species, commonly called "superworms," are larger and more nutritious than yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and are extensively used as feeder insects for reptiles, birds, and other pets. Research has demonstrated that Z. morio larvae can degrade polystyrene and other plastics through gut microbiome activity, with potential applications in waste management and as a protein source for animal feed and human consumption.
darkling-beetle superworm feeder-insect plastic-degradation bioremediation entomophagy commercial-insect-farming gut-microbiome polystyrene-degradation pet-food
Zophobas atratus
superworm, kingworm, barley worm, morio worm, giant mealworm beetle
Zophobas atratus is a darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) whose larvae, known as superworms, are widely used as feed for captive reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish. The species is notable for its larger size compared to the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), with larvae reaching 50–60 mm in length. Adults measure up to 57 mm. The species has gained attention for its ability to biodegrade polystyrene plastics through mechanical shredding and bacterial gut enzyme activity. It is native to tropical regions of Central and South America but has been introduced globally through the pet trade. The name Zophobas morio is a junior synonym.
darkling-beetle superworm pet-feed plastic-degradation biodegradation entomophagy Tenebrionidae commercial-insect-rearing polystyrene-degradation feed-insect