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Table 2 Inventory of edible Orthoptera

From: Practices of entomophagy and entomotherapy by members of the Nyishi and Galo tribes, two ethnic groups of the state of Arunachal Pradesh (North-East India)

Scientific name

Family

English name

Vernacular name (G = Galo; N = Nyishi)

Seasonal availability

Mode of intake

Remark

Chondacris rosea

Acrididae

Short horned grasshopper

Mirbo (G) Takam kamrak (N)

Sept-Nov

Adult stage is consumed boiled, fried, or as paste (chutney). Some insects are smoked for further use. Wings, appendages and lower portion of abdomen are discarded.

Economically important, because of its taste and palatable size.

Heiroglyphus sp.

Acrididae

Short horned grasshopper

Mirbo (G) Eshi tech takam (N)

Sept-Dec

Adult stage is consumed. Fried, used with boiled vegetables or paste (chutney) to take with local alcohol/beverage. Antennae and appendages are discarded.

Highly esteemed by all age groups. Collected from paddy fields.

Diabolocanthops innotabilis

Acrididae

Clown grasshopper

Ili konkam (G) Timi kamchi (N)

Sept-Oct

Adult stage is consumed. Fried and boiled or smoked. Antennae and wings are discarded.

Moderately liked by all age groups.

Schistocerca sp.

Acrididae

locust

Komak joba(G) Takam soik (N)

Sept-Nov

Adult stage is consumed. Fried and boiled with some leafy vegetables. Wings, antennae, appendages and lower portion of abdomen (supposed to contain intestinal parasite) are discarded.

Esteemed by all age groups.

Leptysma sp. (American genus, but given as such by Zool Survey of India, Kolkata)

Acrididae

Short horned grasshopper

Takam hilak (G) Takam pario tokcho (N)

Aug-Oct

Adult stage is consumed. Boiled, roasted and paste is made. Anal cirri and antennae are discarded.

Esteemed by all age groups.

Brachytrypes sp. (African genus, but given as such by Zool Survey of India, Kolkata)

Gryllidae

Cricket

Yarup (G) Takam Yarup (N)

Sept-Nov

Adult stage is consumed. Fried, used in boiled vegetables or as paste (chutney) to take with local alcohol. Antennae and limb appendages are discarded.

Highly preferred by all age groups.

Tarbinskiellus orientalis

Gryllidae

Cricket

Komdruk (G)

May-Sept

Adult stage is consumed. Fried or roasted.

--

Gryllotalpa sp.

Gryllotalpidae

Mole cricket

Yarup (G) Takam gajir (N)

Sept-Dec

Adult stage is consumed. Boiled, roasted and as paste. Nothing is discarded.

This insect is also used as bait to catch fowl, bird, fishes, etc.

Unidentified

Phaneropteridae

Round headed katydid

Kombuk (G) Atu rungne (N)

Sept-Oct

Adult stage is consumed. Fried, paste (chutney) is made and boiled. Antennae are discarded.

A very sought after food insect; liked by everyone.

Schizodactylus monstrosus

Schizodactylidae

Sand cricket

Nyanyir (G) Ayu pokung (N)

May-July

Adult stage is consumed fried or roasted.

Not consumed by Nyishi people.

Conocephalus sp.

Tettigoniidae

Katydid

Kombuk (G) Atu rungne (N)

Sept-Oct

Adult stage is consumed fried or as paste (chutney) and boiled. Antennae are discarded.

A highly esteemed food insect for everyone.

Arachnacaris sp.

Tettigoniidae

Katydid

Kombuk (G) Atu rugnu hoie (N)

Sept-Oct

Adult stage is consumed fried and boiled or roasted. Appendages and antennae are discarded.

Preferred by children.

Microcentrum sp. (American genus, but given as such by Zool Survey of India, Kolkata)

Tettigoniidae

Katydid

Abo ngomdir (G) Takam yash (N)

Aug-Oct

Adult stage is consumed. Boiled with vegetables. Wings are discarded.

Consumed by all age groups, but no by Nyishi people.

Chloracris brullei

Tettigoniidae

Katydid

Komle (G) Paie kamge (N)

Sept-Oct

Adult stage is consumed boiled or as paste. Wings and antennae are discarded.

Consumed by all age groups.

Unidentified

Tettigoniidae

Katydid

Mir apo (G) Kamar dodar (N)

Sept-Oct

Larval form is consumed. Paste is made along with dried bamboo shoot.

Larvae are preferred to adults.

Unidentified

Tettigoniidae

Katydid

Yan pedak (G) Atu rungne (N)

Aug-Nov

Adult stage is consumed boiled and roasted. Wings and appendages are discarded.

Adults are preferred to larvae.

Unidentified

  

Kompe rene (G) Eshi tech takam (N)

Aug-Oct

Adult stage is consumed fried and boiled. Antennae to be discarded.

Consumed by all age groups.