Future prospects for aquatic insects as human food resources

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  • 水生昆虫食 : 河川底生動物の食料としての可能性
  • スイセイ コンチュウショク : カセン テイセイ ドウブツ ノ ショクリョウ ト シテ ノ カノウセイ

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Insects as food will become an important issue in the 21st century due to population growth and global food insecurity. Most insects eaten currently by humans are terrestrial species. Some aquatic insect species are consumed in Japan, such as stoneflies, caddisflies, and dobsonflies. This study assessed the potential of aquatic insects in streams as food resources for humans using field and questionnaire surveys. Field surveys were conducted to estimate the abundance of large-bodied aquatic insects, such as dobsonfly (Protohermes grandis) and caddisfly (Stenopsyche spp.) larvae and stonefly nymphs (Perlidae). The biomass of the benthic invertebrate communities was 0.1-7.5 g/m2 in dry weight, and the proportion of large-bodied insects to the total benthic invertebrates averaged 63%. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) of large-bodied aquatic insects was correlated positively with the biomass of benthic invertebrates. Considering the life histories of these insects and climate, large-bodied, edible aquatic insects could be collected efficiently from winter to early spring. Questionnaire surveys revealed a degree of distaste for the consumption of insects, or entomophagy, because of the appearance of insects. However, some people changed their negative attitude toward entomophagy after tasting cooked insects. We concluded that aquatic insects could be accepted as food items if their appearance on the plate is altered and that greater media communication and educational programs are needed to raise public awareness of the valuable roles that insects play in human life.

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