Table 2.
Inventory of edible Orthoptera
| Scientific name | Family | English name | Vernacular name (G = Galo; N = Nyishi) | Seasonal availability | Mode of intake | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chondacris rosea | Acrididae | Short horned grasshopper | Mirbo (G) Takam kamrak (N) | Sept-Nov | Adult stage is consumed boiled, fried, or as paste (chutney). Some insects are smoked for further use. Wings, appendages and lower portion of abdomen are discarded. | Economically important, because of its taste and palatable size. |
| Heiroglyphus sp. | Acrididae | Short horned grasshopper | Mirbo (G) Eshi tech takam (N) | Sept-Dec | Adult stage is consumed. Fried, used with boiled vegetables or paste (chutney) to take with local alcohol/beverage. Antennae and appendages are discarded. | Highly esteemed by all age groups. Collected from paddy fields. |
| Diabolocanthops innotabilis | Acrididae | Clown grasshopper | Ili konkam (G) Timi kamchi (N) | Sept-Oct | Adult stage is consumed. Fried and boiled or smoked. Antennae and wings are discarded. | Moderately liked by all age groups. |
| Schistocerca sp. | Acrididae | locust | Komak joba(G) Takam soik (N) | Sept-Nov | Adult stage is consumed. Fried and boiled with some leafy vegetables. Wings, antennae, appendages and lower portion of abdomen (supposed to contain intestinal parasite) are discarded. | Esteemed by all age groups. |
| Leptysma sp. (American genus, but given as such by Zool Survey of India, Kolkata) | Acrididae | Short horned grasshopper | Takam hilak (G) Takam pario tokcho (N) | Aug-Oct | Adult stage is consumed. Boiled, roasted and paste is made. Anal cirri and antennae are discarded. | Esteemed by all age groups. |
| Brachytrypes sp. (African genus, but given as such by Zool Survey of India, Kolkata) | Gryllidae | Cricket | Yarup (G) Takam Yarup (N) | Sept-Nov | Adult stage is consumed. Fried, used in boiled vegetables or as paste (chutney) to take with local alcohol. Antennae and limb appendages are discarded. | Highly preferred by all age groups. |
| Tarbinskiellus orientalis | Gryllidae | Cricket | Komdruk (G) | May-Sept | Adult stage is consumed. Fried or roasted. | -- |
| Gryllotalpa sp. | Gryllotalpidae | Mole cricket | Yarup (G) Takam gajir (N) | Sept-Dec | Adult stage is consumed. Boiled, roasted and as paste. Nothing is discarded. | This insect is also used as bait to catch fowl, bird, fishes, etc. |
| Unidentified | Phaneropteridae | Round headed katydid | Kombuk (G) Atu rungne (N) | Sept-Oct | Adult stage is consumed. Fried, paste (chutney) is made and boiled. Antennae are discarded. | A very sought after food insect; liked by everyone. |
| Schizodactylus monstrosus | Schizodactylidae | Sand cricket | Nyanyir (G) Ayu pokung (N) | May-July | Adult stage is consumed fried or roasted. | Not consumed by Nyishi people. |
| Conocephalus sp. | Tettigoniidae | Katydid | Kombuk (G) Atu rungne (N) | Sept-Oct | Adult stage is consumed fried or as paste (chutney) and boiled. Antennae are discarded. | A highly esteemed food insect for everyone. |
| Arachnacaris sp. | Tettigoniidae | Katydid | Kombuk (G) Atu rugnu hoie (N) | Sept-Oct | Adult stage is consumed fried and boiled or roasted. Appendages and antennae are discarded. | Preferred by children. |
| Microcentrum sp. (American genus, but given as such by Zool Survey of India, Kolkata) | Tettigoniidae | Katydid | Abo ngomdir (G) Takam yash (N) | Aug-Oct | Adult stage is consumed. Boiled with vegetables. Wings are discarded. | Consumed by all age groups, but no by Nyishi people. |
| Chloracris brullei | Tettigoniidae | Katydid | Komle (G) Paie kamge (N) | Sept-Oct | Adult stage is consumed boiled or as paste. Wings and antennae are discarded. | Consumed by all age groups. |
| Unidentified | Tettigoniidae | Katydid | Mir apo (G) Kamar dodar (N) | Sept-Oct | Larval form is consumed. Paste is made along with dried bamboo shoot. | Larvae are preferred to adults. |
| Unidentified | Tettigoniidae | Katydid | Yan pedak (G) Atu rungne (N) | Aug-Nov | Adult stage is consumed boiled and roasted. Wings and appendages are discarded. | Adults are preferred to larvae. |
| Unidentified | Kompe rene (G) Eshi tech takam (N) | Aug-Oct | Adult stage is consumed fried and boiled. Antennae to be discarded. | Consumed by all age groups. | ||