Would you eat bugs?

[TheLastOne36]

No. In English parlance, 'bug' refers to most arthropods, but crustaceans usually aren't called bugs. That's all there is to it.

They're arthropods.

A bug is an insect of the order Hemiptera, although it is often used to refer to most arthropods (though I've never heard a crustacean called a bug before).

My point exactly Dachs. In my post i said 'technically they are bugs' i'm not refuting that they aren't generally considered as bugs.

 

[Dachs]

My point exactly Dachs. In my post i said 'technically they are bugs' i'm not refuting that they aren't generally considered as bugs.

No, technically they're not bugs. Technically bugs refers to Hemiptera, like Abgar said, which does not include crustaceans. Non-technically and in general parlance bugs refers to non-crustacean arthropods.

 

[LucyDuke]

Bugs is a pretty general term but I think it's clear that the topic of the thread is the insect kind of bug.

 

[Earthling]

I would support farming/eating bugs (the more edible ones) as opposed to other forms of meat which are much more resource intensive; bugs have incredible protein yeilds. I'd even work to overcome any gross out factor there is. Unfortunately I don't see much of this available nor do I know of people working to make this so, but it's still not a bad idea.

 

[Perfection]

I would support farming/eating bugs (the more edible ones) as opposed to other forms of meat which are much more resource intensive

Why do you think bugs are less resource intensive?

 

[TheLastOne36]

Why do you think bugs are less resource intensive?

I believe they are much less resource intensive then Pigs or cows. But it all depends on how much insects and what kind you farm. I can imagine that aloooooot of insects in one small area would need to be provided tons of resources.

 

[Cutlass]

I have bugphobia. So no, I would not willingly eat one.

 

[Fifty]

Why do you think bugs are less resource intensive?

Its further down on the food energy chain.

dirt eats sunshine, plants eat dirt, spiders eat plants, ants eat spiders, other bugs eat ants, birds eat other bugs, fish eat birds, chickens eat fish, pigs eat chicken, and cows eat pigs, and humans eat cows, and cannibals eat humans. The closer you are to "sunshine" on the energy chain, the more resource-efficient it is to create one calorie of you! This helps explain why cannibalism is taboo (because its so inefficient that we evolved to think its immoral). Biology 101, dude.

 

[salty mud]

Of course I would eat a bug. If there was nothing left to eat and it wasn't rotten and disgusting, I would.

 

[Perfection]

I believe they are much less resource intensive then Pigs or cows.

BUT WHY? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?

But it all depends on how much insects and what kind you farm. I can imagine that aloooooot of insects in one small area would need to be provided tons of resources.

Well you need aloooooot of insects to make dinner!

 

[Maniacal]

Technically everyone HAS eaten bugs... such as dust mites.

I'd only willingly eat a sizable bug or grub if I had no other choice.

 

[Theige]

I'll try nearly anything once...

 

[Elta]

as I doubt anyone would eat a month-old piece of steak.

In America we pay extra money for a month old steak.

Hanging a piece of steak out to dry makes it extra good if you do it right.

Surely they do this in France too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dried_beef


@Narz - I'd down to eat some big organic beetles. Prep them up, they should be good.

We spray so many chemicals in my area (the city government does it at the request of the citizens) That there is no way you would want to eat one of these.

 

[Earthling]

I BELIEVE BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. THE BUG-RELATED CONSPIRACY CANNOT STOP US. WE WILL PACIFY THE ZERG.

Well, bugs are much less energy and resource intensive than other meat likes cows or pigs. What Fifty posted is in the right vein, though I would LOVE to see some of those ants that eat spiders, that would be epic if you could post pics. The essential fact is that a lot of bugs' metabolism convert a much greater proportion of what they eat (plants) into bodymass; a kilogram of bugs would require a good deal less energy to raise than a kilogram of beef. And as we're still a ways away from fully synthesized efficient food, I could see eating bugs being a nice niche.

Again, though, this doesn't seem feasible at all where I live but it's something I would try, or do if I ever went on vacation somewhere. Personally I'd be most willing to eat something like crickets or grasshoppers, don't know which types of beetles are supposed to be good but could probably do that too.

 

[Elta]

Well, bugs are much less energy and resource intensive than other meat likes cows or pigs. What Fifty posted is in the right vein, though I would LOVE to see some of those ants that eat spiders, that would be epic if you could post pics. The essential fact is that a lot of bugs' metabolism convert a much greater proportion of what they eat (plants) into bodymass; a kilogram of bugs would require a good deal less energy to raise than a kilogram of beef. And as we're still a ways away from fully synthesized efficient food, I could see eating bugs being a nice niche.

According to my ENV Sci 101 teacher.

1000 calories of soy needed to give a human 1000 calories.

10,000 calories of soy needed to feed a chicken in order to make 1000 calories for human consumption.

20,000 for hog meat

And 40,000 for beef

I reckon that bugs are somewhere in the 1,500 to 2,500 range at most, but that is just an educated guess. Diary is slightly higher than that.

 

[holy king]

junebugs taste like popcorn.

and i really like grasshoppers.

 

[flyingchicken]

I had some before. Liked the taste (a bit too strong), but not the texture. Too unmeaty.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

How exactly would one go about raising bugs for food anyway? What would they be fed? How would they be harvested?

 

[Zack]

How exactly would one go about raising bugs for food anyway? What would they be fed? How would they be harvested?

You see, when a boy bug loves a girl bug.....

 

[bhsup]

They're probably a good protein source, and I wouldn't hesitate to scarf them down if survival was on the line, but I don't see myself ordering a plate of chocolate covered grasshoppers anytime soon.

Caveats:

• If moneys is involved, I'd eat 'em
• I've accidently swallowed one before when on a motorcycle