Most people in the United States do not indulge in insect snacks. In fact, Americans in general are repulsed by bugs and creepy-crawlies, and many people have arachnophobia and entomophobia. However, in other cultures, bugs are not seen as so “pesky” and instead, some types of bugs are even eaten as a delicacy, including termites.
Arizona Termite Specialists offers the best termite treatments in Phoenix. We offer thorough termite inspections in order to assess the extent of your termite problem so we can eliminate the entire colony. Termites eat 24 hours a day, which means they can cause a significant amount of damage to your home in a short amount of time. If you suspect a termite infestation, give our expert termite control company a call. Below, we’ll take a look at some cultures that eat termites. Contact our termite control company today!
Eating Insects
Eating insects is formally known as entomophagy. Over 2 billion people eat insects worldwide, with Africa leading the way. Africa is the richest source of edible bugs, with over 500 species to choose from. Insects are great sources of protein, and they are low in fat. In fact, they contain almost as much protein as beef, but only a small portion of the fat. Eating insects is believed to not only be good for us, but it could also help the planet by cutting down on the number of insects in the world and by using less greenhouse gases to farm than raising livestock.
Eating insects is more about your perception of them than anything else. While the Western world has not embraced eating them, cultures in Africa, Asia, and South America have, and these same cultures often rely on insects to be their primary source of protein.
CULTURES THAT EAT TERMITES
Ghana
Many cultures in Africa eat insects. Insects are a good source of protein, fat, and oil that people need for a healthy diet. Insects are plentiful in Africa, so when food is in short supply, insects are what people eat. In Ghana, termites are a favorite, and they can make up to 60% of a person’s diet in rural Africa. These insects are fried, roasted, and even ground up into flour for baking. When the rainy season hits, it forces termites up from their underground homes, making them easy pickings.
Thailand
If you visit Thailand, you’ll see fried bugs everywhere you go. They are popular street vendor food, and people love to eat fried bugs with beer, similar to how Americans would eat peanuts with beer at a bar in the US. Visit Bangkok, and you can find fried grasshoppers, termites, and beetles up for grabs. Most insects are prepared the same way in Thailand; however, they are seasoned differently, so if you visit, you’ll have to try different ones from different vendors.
China
The Chinese treat insects as snacks and as delicacies. They eat almost any type of edible insect as well, from termites to water bugs and scorpions. Insects as larvae are popular to eat as well, from bee larvae to silkworm moth larvae. These tasky insects are rich in copper, iron, riboflavin, thiamin, and zinc. In fact, you could substitute insects for your daily vitamin. Insects are prepared in a wide variety of ways. Ant soup is popular in the cold winter months, while fried insects are always a popular method of preparation as well.
CHOOSE ARIZONA TERMITE SPECIALISTS IN PHOENIX
While you could choose to collect the termites that have invaded your home or office in Phoenix and eat them, most people call us, their local termite exterminator, instead. Arizona Termite Specialists won’t collect your termites either; our job is to get rid of them from your home or office for good. We do this by using the best termite insecticide on the market today, Termidor®.
This termiticide is applied in places where termites are. Termites are attracted to Termidor® and consume it. However, it doesn’t kill the insect right away. That termite then returns to his friends, transferring the substance to them. This ripple effect spreads like wildfire, eventually killing all of the eggs and the queen. We then apply Termidor HE all around your home afterwards, which provides continual protection from termites. This solution saturates the soil, ensuring any other nearby termites are killed and helping to keep other termites out. Give us a call for a free quote today!
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