Table 3 Inventory of edible Hemiptera
Scientific name | Family | English name | Vernacular name (G = Galo; N = Nyishi) | Seasonal availability | Mode of intake | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lethocerus indicus | Belostomidae | Giant water bug | Isi tari | Round the year | Boiled or fried as adult consumed | -- |
Tibicen pruinosus (American species, but given as such by Zool Survey of India, Kolkata) | Cicadidae | Annual cicada | Nyani (G) Laptung bargi (N) | Apr-June | Adult stage is consumed. Boiled or as paste. Wings are discarded. | Diurnal singer; stops menstrual cycle if taken in larger quantities. |
Cyclochila virens (Australian species, but given as such by Zool Survey of India, Kolkata) | Cicadidae | Greengrocer cicada | Nyare tasi (G) | May-Aug | Adult stage is consumed. Roasted or as paste. Wings are discarded. | Diurnal singer. Not consumed by Nyishi. |
Euterphosia crowfooti | Cicadidae | Cicada | Gopu goye (G) Yadung nengne (N) | May-July | Adult stage is consumed. Roasted or as paste. Wings are discarded. | Diurnal singer. |
Pycna repandar | Cicadidae | Cicada | Gopu goye (G) Yato rugne (N) | May-July | Adult stage is consumed. Roasted or as paste. Wings are discarded | Diurnal singer. |
Aspongopus sp. | Pentatomidae | Stink bug | Rishu (N) Rishu punyo (G) | Dec - Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Fried or boiled with vegetables. | -- |
Alcaerrhynchus grandis (American species, but given as such by Zool Survey of India, Kolkata) | Pentatomidae | Stink bug | Rishu (N) Rishu punyo (G) | Dec - Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Fried or boiled with vegetables. | Not consumed by Galo people. |
Tessaratoma quadrata | Tessaratomidae | Stink bug | Tari (G) Agu chena rekok (N) | Feb-Mar | Adult stage is consumed. Raw or turned into chutney. Wings are discarded. | Large insect; considerable knowledge is required to avoid poisonous mimic. Not consumed by Nyshi as the bug bites and may cause fever. |
Halyomorpha picus | Pentatomidae | Stink bug | Tari (G) Rishu (N) | Nov-Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Raw paste (chutney) is made. Head or in some cases abdomen is discarded. | Â |
Aspongopus nepalensis | Pentatomidae | Stink bug | Tari Gondhi bug/gondhipuk (G, N) | Nov-Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Part of abdomen is discarded to avoid pungent taste; raw or as chutney. | Excessive consumption causes hallucination. |
Nezara viridula | Pentatomidae | Stink bug | Rishu (N) Rishu punyo (G) | Dec - Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Fried or boiled with vegetables. | Not consumed by Galo people. |
Unidentified | Pentatomidae | Stink bug | Rishu (N) | Dec - Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Fried or raw paste is made. | -- |
Dalader acuticosta | Coreidae | Plant bug | Rishu (N) Rishu punyo (G) | Dec - Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Fried or raw paste is made. | Causes burning sensation in body. Not consumed by Galo people. |
Mictis tenebrosa | Coreidae | Plant bug | Rishu (N) Rishu punyo (G) | Dec - Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Fried or raw paste is made. | Not consumed by Galo people. |
Antilochus coqueberti | Pyrrhocoridae | Red bug | Rishu (N) Rishu punyo (G) | Dec - Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Fried or boiled with vegetables. | Not consumed by Galo people. |
Unidentified | Â | Bug | Rishu (N) Rishu punyo (G) | Dec - Feb | Adult stage is consumed. Fried or boiled with vegetables. | Not consumed by Galo people. |