Entomophagy Explained

Entomophagy (from Greek ἔντομον Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: éntomon, 'insect', and φαγεῖν Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: phagein, 'to eat') is the practice of eating insects. An alternative term is insectivory.^{[1] [2]}

Entomophagy is sometimes defined to also include the eating of arthropods other than insects, such as arachnids and myriapods; eating arachnids may also be referred to as arachnophagy.

In non-humans

See main article: Insectivore. Entomophagy is widespread among many animals, including non-human primates.^[3] Animals that feed primarily on insects are called insectivores.

Insects,^[4] nematodes^[5] and fungi^[6] that obtain their nutrition from insects are sometimes termed entomophagous, especially in the context of biological control applications. These may also be more specifically classified into predators, parasites or parasitoids, while viruses, bacteria and fungi that grow on or inside insects may also be termed entomopathogenic (see also entomopathogenic fungi).

In humans

See main article: Entomophagy in humans. Entomophagy is scientifically described as widespread among non-human primates and common among many human communities.^[3] The scientific term describing the practice of eating insects by humans is anthropo-entomophagy.^[7] The eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults of certain insects have been eaten by humans from prehistoric times to the present day.^[8] Around 3,000 ethnic groups practice entomophagy.^[9] Human insect-eating (anthropo-entomophagy) is common to cultures in most parts of the world, including Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Eighty percent of the world's nations eat insects of 1,000 to 2,000 species.^{[10] [11]} FAO has registered some 1,900 edible insect species and estimates that there were, in 2005, some two billion insect consumers worldwide. FAO suggests eating insects as a possible solution to environmental degradation caused by livestock production.^[12] While these products are increasingly available, recent research suggests that insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly replace traditional meat.^[13] Only a small minority of consumers would consider replacing meat with insects.^[14] In the US and Europe, where insects are not traditionally eaten, cultural barriers and disgust limit adoption, leading most companies to focus on the animal feed market.^[14] Furthermore, the feeding of insects today is done through the valorization of agricultural by-products based on cereals, rather than food waste, which is already being used in livestock feed. This significantly reduces the ecological benefits of insect farming.^[15]

In some societies, primarily western nations, entomophagy is uncommon or taboo.^{[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]} Today, insect eating is uncommon in North America and Europe, but insects remain a popular food elsewhere, and some companies are trying to introduce insects as food into Western diets.^[22] A recent analysis of Google Trends data showed that people in Japan have become increasingly interested in entomophagy since 2013.^[23]

See also

• Insects as feed
• Human interactions with insects
  • Insects in medicine
  • Insects as food
• Taboo food and drink

Further reading

• Book: Clausen, Curtis Paul . Entomophagous insects . 1940 . 807191.
• 10.3109/10408419109113507 . Biochemical Activities of Entomophagous Fungi . 1991 . Domnas . Aristotle J. . Warner . Steven A. . Critical Reviews in Microbiology . 18 . 1–13 . 1854431 . 1.
• Ramos-Elorduy . Julieta . Anthropo-entomophagy: Cultures, evolution and sustainability . Entomological Research . 2009 . 39 . 5 . 271–288 . 10.1111/j.1748-5967.2009.00238.x .

External links

• Edible insects . New Scientist . 2007 . 193 . 2595 . 56 . 10.1016/s0262-4079(07)60691-5 .
• Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security
• Risk profile related to production and consumption of insects as food and feed European Food Safety Authority 2015

Notes and References

1. Book: Deluycker . Anneke M. . The International Encyclopedia of Primatology . Insectivory . 2017 . 1–3 . 10.1002/9781119179313.wbprim0062 . 978-0-470-67337-9 .
2. Meyer-Rochow . Victor Benno . Entomophagy and its impact on world cultures: the need for a multidisciplinary approach . Edible Forest Insects . 6 . 2 . 2010 . 23–36 .
3. Raubenheimer . David . Rothman . Jessica M. . January 2013 . Nutritional ecology of entomophagy in humans and other primates . . 58 . 141–160 . 141–160 . 10.1146/annurev-ento-120710-100713 . 23039342 . 2013AREnt..58..141R .
4. Book: Clausen, Curtis Paul . Entomophagous insects . 1940 . 807191.
5. Poinar . G.O.. Entomophagous Nematodes. Fortschritte der Zoologie. 1986. 32. 95–121.
6. 10.3109/10408419109113507 . Biochemical Activities of Entomophagous Fungi . 1991 . Domnas . Aristotle J. . Warner . Steven A. . Critical Reviews in Microbiology . 18 . 1–13 . 1854431 . 1.
7. Ramos-Elorduy . Julieta . Anthropo-entomophagy: Cultures, evolution and sustainability . Entomological Research . 2009 . 39 . 5 . 271–288 . 10.1111/j.1748-5967.2009.00238.x .
8. Web site: Entomophagy (Eating insects). Center for Invasive Species Research, University of California (Research) . 27 January 2014.
9. Book: Ramos-Elorduy, Julieta . Creepy crawly cuisine: the gourmet guide to edible insects . Menzel, Peter . 1998 . Inner Traditions / Bear & Company . 978-0-89281-747-4 . 44 . 23 April 2014.
10. News: Carrington, Damian . Insects could be the key to meeting food needs of growing global population . . 1 August 2010.
11. Ramos-Elorduy . Julieta . Anthropo-entomophagy: Cultures, evolution and sustainability . Entomological Research . 2009 . 39 . 5 . 271–288 . 10.1111/j.1748-5967.2009.00238.x .
12. Web site: Insects for food and feed . FAO . 2019-02-17 . Press releases.
13. News: Milman . Oliver . 2025-06-25 . 'Yuck factor': eating insects rather than meat to help the planet is failing, study finds . 2025-11-14 . The Guardian . en-GB .
14. Biteau . Corentin . Bry-Chevalier . Tom . Crummett . Dustin . Ryba . Ren . Jules . Michael St. . Beyond the buzz: Insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumption . npj Sustainable Agriculture . 2025 . 3 . 1 . 35 . 10.1038/s44264-025-00075-z . 2025npjSA...3...35B .
15. Web site: Is insect farming good for the environment?. ONEI. 2026-01-30. en.
16. Meyer-Rochow . Victor Benno . Food taboos: their origins and purposes. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2009 . 5 . 18 . 18 . 10.1186/1746-4269-5-18. 19563636 . 2711054 . free .
17. Book: Human Biology and Behaviour: An Anthropological Perspective.. 1985 . Little Brown & Co. . 978-0-673-39013-4 . Weiss, M. L. . Mann, A.E. . amp .
18. Book: Medical Anthropology in Ecological Perspective . registration . 1989 . Westview Press . 978-0-8133-0742-8 . McElroy, A. . Townsend, P. K..
19. Book: Aboriginal Health & Society: The Traditional and Contemporary Aboriginal Struggle for Better Health. 1991 . Allen & Unwin . Sydney . 978-1-86373-057-0 . Saggers, S. . Gray, D. . amp.
20. Book: Gordon, David George. The Eat-A-Bug Cookbook . 1998 . Ten Speed Press . 978-0-89815-977-6.
21. Book: Wilson, Charles B.. All Cricket, No Bull... . 2015 . CreateSpace . 978-1503079649.
22. News: Thompson . Addie . Want To Help Solve The Global Food Crisis? Eat More Crickets . Forbes . 7 July 2013.
23. 高田 . 兼太 . 昆虫食に対する日本人の関心は本当に高まっているのか？ . 伊丹市昆虫館研究報告 . 2022 . 10 . 10.34335/itakon.10.0_11 . Do Japanese interest in anthropo-entomophagy become really increased? Analysys on the Japanese interest using Google Trend (preliminary study) . ja . Bulletin of the Itami City Museum of Insects .