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

• DOI: 10.4172/2376-0214.1000124
• Publication Date: 2015-01-20T09:29:49Z
• Authors: Jharna Chakravorty
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0106 biological sciences; 01 natural sciences

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