Practice of entomophagy in North-East India: A review

Abstract

Insects, which are a traditional food in many regions of the world, are highly nutritious and, in particular, a potential source of protein. In the north-eastern parts of India, edible insects are the natural renewable source that plays a vital role in the nutritional system of different ethnic groups. Entomophagy is widely practiced in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland. Various tribes of a state prefer various species of edible insects. Diverse Indian tribes consume approximately 255 insect species of insects as sustenance. The consumption of coleopteran species was the highest, accounting for approximately 34% of all edible insect species, followed by Orthoptera (24%), Hemiptera (17%), Hymenoptera (10%), Odonata (8%), Lepidoptera (4%), Isoptera (2%), and Ephimeroptera (1%). Members of different communities consume edible insects as per their traditional beliefs, and tastes, along with regional and seasonal availability. Therefore, studying the edible and therapeutically important insect species can have economic implications, allowing countries like India to explore approaches to sustainably utilize this enormous natural resource.