Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Insects, Grubs, and Worms
Insects can be a valuable source of necessary protein in emergency situations. Pound for pound
they have more food value than vegetables and are usually much easier to hunt and gather than
mammals. Since they may contain harmful parasites, insects should be cooked before eating.
Boiling is the safest method, but roasting in hot coals or on a hot rock will suffice if no pots are
available. To make them more palatable, you can chop them finely, or dry and grind them up
before adding to soups or stews. Some varieties of grubs can taste like cheese or sweets and are
considered delicacies in certain parts of the world. Look for grubs in rotting stumps or under
peeling tree bark.
Caution: Brightly colored insects, including their caterpillars, are usually poisonous.
Ants
Most ants have a stinging bite containing formic acid, which is quite bitter and odorous. Cook
these ants for at least six minutes to destroy this poison.
Caterpillars
If hairy, you can squeeze to remove head and guts. Discard the hairy outside.
Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Cicadas
Remove the head, wings, and legs before roasting or boiling. The legs have fine barbs, which
will irritate your stomach. Gather in the morning, when they are cold or sluggish, or trap them
by laying out a wool blanket at night in a meadow. Barbs on their legs will catch in the wool,
like burrs stuck to a sweater. Roasting or boiling will kill any parasites in your grasshoppers.
Worms
Worms are an excellent source of food for robins and humans. Starve them for a day, or
squeeze them to get the dirt out of their bellies. Try drying them and grinding to a powder to
make them more palatable.
Slugs and Snails
Avoid sea snails and any snails with bright shells, especially tropical ones (possibly poisonous).
Starve them for a few days to remove any toxins from the food they have been eating.
Shelter
In severe climates, some kind of fabricated shelter from the elements will be essential for your
survival. In more moderate climates, a shelter may not be necessary, but can make your daily
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