國營事業◆英文題庫下載題庫

        Insects are often thought of as a nuisance to human beings and merely pests for crops and animals. Yet this is far from the truth. In fact, eating insects has been practiced throughout history and many people around the world eat insects out of choice. 

        The practice of eating insects is known as entomophagy. Many animals, such as spiders, lizards and birds, are entomophagous, as are many insects. People throughout the world have been eating insects as a regular part of their diets for millennia. The earliest citing of entomophagy can be found in biblical literature; nevertheless, eating insects was, and still is, taboo in many westernized societies. The unconventional nature of entomophagy has meant that farming insects for food and feed has largely been absent from the great agricultural innovations in livestock farming that emerged in past centuries – with a few exceptions, such as bees, silkworms and scale insects. Insects have also failed to feature on the agendas of agricultural research and development agencies worldwide. Until recently, references to insects for food and feed have been largely anecdotal. It is therefore unsurprising that insects are still lacking from the diets of many rich nations and that their sale for human consumption remains part of a niche food sector of novelty snacks. 

        Nevertheless, insect consumption is not a new concept in many parts of the world. From ants to beetle larvae – eaten by tribes in Africa and Australia as part of their subsistence diets – to the popular, crispy-fried locusts and beetles enjoyed in Thailand, it is estimated that insect-eating is practiced regularly by at least 2 billion people worldwide. More than 1,900 insect species have been documented in literature as edible, most of them in tropical countries. The most commonly eaten insect groups are beetles, caterpillars, bees, wasps, and ants. 

        Insects deliver a host of ecological services that are fundamental to the survival of humankind. They provide food and contribute to livelihoods. In the time when it’s more and more difficult to meet the food and nutrition needs, the practices of gathering insects for food and income definitely worth consideration.