PULLMAN, Wash. -
Students of Washington State University professor Richard Zack's "Insects and
People" course, as well as the public, will have a chance to put their gag
reflex to the test during the annual insect-eating lunch 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday,
Nov. 9, at Ensminger Pavilion.
On the menu will be
cricket chili, mealworm tacos and various pastries sweetened with honey, an
insect byproduct. Those attending also can sample comb honey, wax and
all.
Zack, director of
WSU's M.T. James Entomological Collection, said the insect lunch is a way for
his students to understand that people in other parts of the world don't exclude
insects from their diets, either as a protein supplement, flavoring in dishes or
for medicinal purposes.
In Japan, traditional
foods incorporated different insects, such as bees and cicadas. In Thailand,
certain insects are ground up and used as seasoning. The Chinese have used
scorpions, certain spiders and many ants in traditional medicine. And Africans
seeking another protein source turned to termites, grasshoppers or caterpillars.
Zack had occasion to
try termites during a visit to Africa: "They actually weren't that bad," he
said.
The WSU insect lunch
will also have bug-free chili and tacos for students and others not inclined to
push their luck - or their gullets.
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