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Pine tree emperor moth larva

Nudaurelia cytherea

Description:

They are edible.

Notes:

You can see a photo of the moth here: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/222...

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23 Comments

staccyh
staccyh 10 years ago

Great photos and I enjoyed the discussion - so thanks everyone for teaching me something new!

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 10 years ago

Amazing caterpillar. Looks like there's absolutely no need for ketchup, pepper, salt, chilli..... or even vegemite !

That's a beaufy

Maria dB
Maria dB 10 years ago

Especially like the second photo!

LaurenZarate
LaurenZarate 10 years ago

Karen, you don't have to go as far as Australia to eat hundreds of yucky insect dishes! :)

LaurenZarate
LaurenZarate 10 years ago

There are many indigenous dishes in Mexico with insects. Oaxaca is famous for its roasted little grasshoppers in Chile and for eating Honey Pot Ants. Here in Chiapas, many people eat the adult female queens of Leaf Cutter Ants. They are collected during the nuptial flights, the wings removed, toasted, and served with chile and lemon. The males aren't eaten because they supposedly taste like urine. There is also a delicacy called "Satz". They are large, juicy, communal (as larvae) caterpillars of a Saturniid moth. They are collected, gutted and fried for eating. They are now very expensive and only some of each year's population are collected for food.

FaredinAliyevski
FaredinAliyevski 10 years ago

Arthropods are the new trend of research for sustainable food source which contain all the protein, vitamins and minerals we need. Asian countries eat many different insects and that's going to come to our countries as well. So get ready guys :)

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

Very interesting discussion! I understand that insect larvae are eaten by many aboriginal tribes worldwide as a easy source of protein. I've never eaten anything like this, but I've always said when I finally make it to Australia I will try a witchetty grub! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entomophagy...

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Bayucca,I am a total vegetarian. Never eaten meat in my life. I love fruits and vegetables so much!My life is fulfilled. :)

bayucca
bayucca 10 years ago

Thanks, Fanie! And Jemma, I did not want to eat them either, first, but I am old fashioned. My Grandpa always told us: All things has to be eaten what is on the plate and I told my wife we try everything, she: OK, yes and at the end I was the only one who tried one. Do you eat shrimps? What is the difference between grasshoppers, caterpillars and shrimps? None, all just proteins, OK, for some you need a little bit more sauces or chocolate ;-)...

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Beautiful ,but do not want to eat it!

Fanie
Fanie 10 years ago

Bayucca

Mopane caterpillars are Gonimbrasia belina. They are collected in the field, dried and smoked which apparently brings out the flavors. You can even buy them in a can. You can read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonimbrasia...

bayucca
bayucca 10 years ago

Yes, Fanie is much easier!! Thanks! I once eat a Mopane caterpillar, do you know which caterpillar that was?

vivianpoma
vivianpoma 10 years ago

incredible, wonderful colorful

OnengDyah
OnengDyah 10 years ago

Pretty color..:)

Sergio Monteiro
Sergio Monteiro 10 years ago

Wonderful!

Fanie
Fanie 10 years ago

Thanks for all the comments.
Yes Tina it is still me :-)

Rajas Deshpande
Rajas Deshpande 10 years ago

woww... beautiful...

LaurenZarate
LaurenZarate 10 years ago

Beautiful but I don't want to eat it!

Tiz
Tiz 10 years ago

Beautiful! Did you change your PN-name? Well, bye Rautenbachf and hello Fanie! :) Thank you for the support so far! Regards Tina

namitha
namitha 10 years ago

Cool spotting! Never seen edible caterpillars.

beaker98
beaker98 10 years ago

Wow! Beautiful. It's surprising that they are edible with be bright warning colors. That goes against the rules of entomaphagy:) Awesome photos!

Sew
Sew 10 years ago

cute little one...

Fanie
Spotted by
Fanie

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Spotted on Oct 21, 2012
Submitted on Sep 15, 2013

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