ABSTRACT
Abstract The contribution that insects make to life is enormous. During consultant mis sions to the Laos PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam, the authors conducted an an thropological study of edible insects in these countries. Informal conversations were held with food insect vendors and consumers. Field notes pertaining to these missions and those obtained from rapid appraisals in Thailand were com piled and analyzed. The results demonstrate that the selected countries share common forest and watershed resources as they all form part of the Mekong River Basin. Due to comparable ecological and environmental conditions, as well as certain sociocultural practices, people living in these countries have simi lar preferences regarding insect foods. Approximately 164 insect species are eaten: these include beetles (61 species), termites (2 species), bugs (11 species), moths (47 species), cicadas (11 species), dragonflies (4 species), bees and ants (16 spe cies) as well as crickets and locusts (22 species). The study confirmed that 44 species of insects are eaten in northeastern Thailand alone. The diversity of in sect foods is greater in urban areas than in rural areas. Rural folk eat insects as their main dish, whereas urban people eat insects either as a main dish or snack, or both. Moreover, although insects are a nutritious food source, cooking meth ods may alter their quality. Rural consumers or indigenous migrants may obtain fewer calories from insect foods as they prefer meals that are low in fat. Urban consumers, however, have several different ways of preparing insect foods us ing fat (frying, frittering) and can obtain a greater variety of insects. At present,
insect foods are increasingly in demand and the marketing of edible insects is becoming more lucrative. Insect food distributors may earn a net profit of ap proximately 800-1,200 Baht/day (19-30 US $) for those selling in slum areas and about 2,000 Baht/night (49 US $), if they operate in tourist zones. On a commercial scale, entrepreneurs may earn as much as 600-700 million Baht per year (14.8-17.3 million US $ y 1). However, the significant quantity of edible insects collected is having an adverse effect on the ecosystem and food chain, resulting in a biodiversity crisis. Nevertheless, the farming of insects as a hu man food source has real potential. For instance, studies are underway in Thai land on the farming of certain crickets, bamboo moths, and sago beetles. Modi fied technologies are needed, however, to yield the same quality of insects as those obtained from the natural environment. Financial support for edible in sect research is one important means of maintaining biodiversity on the planet.
