Table 4.
Inventory of edible Hymenoptera
| Scientific name | Family | English name | Vernacular name (G = Galo; N = Nyishi) | Seasonal availability | Mode of intake | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vespa sp. | Vespidae | Wasps | Rego (G) Pacha yadam (N) | Nov-Jan | Adult forms are preferred. Fried, fresh one is chewed, wings are discarded. Though larvae pupae are also consumed | Fresh insects are chewed and chitinous discarded material is collected and used for metallurgical processing. Not consumed or used by Nyishi. |
| Polistes sp. | Vespidae | Potter wasp | Bere (G) Hupu hum yalang (red) (N) | Nov-Feb | Adult forms are preferred. Fried, fresh is chewed, wings are discarded, but larvae and pupae are also consumed. | Used in metallurgical processing. |
| Polistes sp. | Vespidae | Paper wasp | Oye nigona (G) Hupu hum yalang (N) | Nov-Feb | Larvae are collected along with bee hive and then smoked. Adult and larvae both are preferable, in case of adult wings are discarded. | -- |
| Unidentified | Vespidae | wasp | Iddum (G) Tee (N) | Nov-Jan | Adult forms are preferred. Roasted, boiled, smoked or paste is made, wings are discarded. | -- |
| Unidentified | Vespidae | wasp | Iddum ago (G) Hoie (baby of tee) (N) | Nov-Dec | Both adult and larval form are consumed though larval form is preferred a lot Fried or boiled, wings are discarded. | Larval stage is preferred. |
| Unidentified | Vespidae | wasp | Iddum tupte (G) Tatang (N) | Oct-Dec | Adult stage is consumed. Boiled with bamboo shoot, wings are to be discarded. | Adults are preferred |
| Unidentified | Ichneumonidae | Ichneumonid wasp | Bere (G) Gacha ganga hoie (young) (N) | Oct-Dec | Adult stage is consumed. Fried and paste is made, wings and terminal end of appendages are discarded. | Esteemed by all age groups. |
| Eumenes sp. | Vespidae (Eumenidae) | Potter wasp | Ite paglum (G) Gacha ganga hoie (mother) (N) | Nov-Dec | Larvae are eaten directly. Pupae stage is boiled or paste is made. | Larval form is highly preferred. |
| Unidentified | Vespidae | Wasp | Rele botu (G) Taga (N) | Dec-Feb | Egg, larvae, pupae, and adult stages are consumed. Egg/larvae are dried and boiled or turned into a paste; adults have wings discarded before consumption. | Egg/larvae most preferred. |
| Vespa orientalis | Vespidae | Wasp | Gapu (G) Gunya (N) | Nov-Feb | Larvae are collected along with nest and smoked; wings are to be discarded in case of adult insect consumption. | Larval stage is highly esteemed. |
| Apis cerana | Apidae | Honey bee | Tangik, (G) Tungu (N) | Nov-Jan | Adult and larval stages are consumed roasted and in form of a paste. Wings and antennae are discarded. | Preferred by all age groups. |
| Apis sp. | Apidae | Honey bee | Bere rusup (G) | Nov-Jan | Adult stage is consumed. After frying a paste is made and consumed with food; wings are discarded. | Not consumed by Nyishi. |
| Xylocopa sp. | Xylocopidae | Carpenter bee | Itum galum (G) | Nov-Mar | Adult and larval stages are consumed in boiled form; wings are to be removed in case of adult. | Not consumed by Nyishi. |
| Oecophylla smaragdina | Formicidae | Weaver ant | Tonge/Babuk (G) Babuk(N) | All year round | Adult and larval forms, both are consumed raw. | |