From a practical point of view, eating bugs should be a given. However here in Toronto, Canada, we as a society are squeamish about the subject. Recently I had the opportunity to try some worm larvets for myself. They really were not bad but not tasty, really. They actually had no taste at all. What is the point? Bugs really rule the world and are a good source of protein. If we ate more bugs we would reduce the dependence on red and chicken meat, which requires lots of the earth’s resources. We could be kinds to the earth by eating more bugs. The Little Weed tried one for shock value and also said there was very little taste.
Eating Bugs, worm larvet head and 6 little legs macro 2.7x, Toronto, Canada, photo by Don Tai
A small box of Larvets Worm Snax, Mexican Spice
These photos are shot in macro at 2.7x for dramatic visual effect. In reality these bugs are 2.5cm/1″ in length and 2mm thick. Still you can see the head as a little black dot and 6 little legs. They are unmistakably bugs.
I tried researching what type of bugs are used and this review said they are mealworms, “or larva from a type of grain beetle of sorts”, but I will try to verify this later. Mealworm larvae (source)? Maybe roasted beetle larvae (source)? There is absolutely no info about the larvet’s origins on the official web site, which is too bad. There is surprisingly little factual information about eating bugs on the internet. Most links simply try to sell bugs without further information as to what they are selling.
I emailed Hotlix and they told me the worm is Tenebrio Molitor or beetle Larva. They grow all their insects and then cook them before flavouring and packaging. They have been making insect candy and snacks for 30 years. Interesting.
Truthfully, there is almost no taste, though there is a bit of a crunch. It really felt and sounded like eating shrimp, where you crunch through the shell. They are good to eat for the fun factor, and for the expressions of those that are around you, because many people, including my family were completely disgusted by these and refused to try them. The experience is their loss.
Believe it or not, we as humans do eat a lot of bugs. As they are everywhere, you probably do not notice a bug in your fruit and then chomp them down. Such a delicious apple, not knowing that you just got a little but more protein than you expected. I am sure we also eat them in our sleep. We also use bugs for food colouring, such as the cochineal beetle. You might not know as much as you think about what you eat. Disgusting you might think, but this is our human existence. Why not just accept the fact and take advantage of this plentiful food source? Fish and other foods we eat eat bugs, so why not just skip a level of the food chain?
Hotlix, the maker of these worm larvets, also sells worms, butterflys, crickets, scorpions and chocolate covered ants. If I get the chance I would like to try the chocolate covered ants. They probably taste just like rice crispies, but with a higher protein content.
Eating Bugs, worm larvets, macro 2.8x, Toronto, Canada, photo by Don Tai
Tenebrio (mealworm) larva, live specimen. Note the similarity to the worm larvet!
Links to eating bugs: 12 Delicious Edible Insects: Lots of pretty girls exposing skin, unrelated to topic at hand.
Mealworms
