One of the exotic foods I have (NOT!) eaten is a Cambodian treat of crispy fried big black hairy spiders. Sold at a roadside stop when the bus from Phnom Penh thoughtfully stopped for a bathroom break.
Actually, this post belongs to my blog thread describing what to call groups of animals. Here I give you: a cluster of spiders. Realize that these are (were) each about the size of my closed fist, and you will understand why I lost my appetite.
The spider in the next photo was as large as the span of my whole hand….
I can’t imagine eating these spiders. Or the scorpions, or larvae, or bugs fried up at various markets we’ve visited…. But they are a source of protein. “Over 1,000 species of insects are known to be eaten in 80% of the world’s nations. The total number of ethnic groups recorded to practice entomophagy is around 3,000. …Today insect eating is rare in the developed world, but insects remain a popular food in many regions of Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. …FAO has registered some 1900 edible insect species and estimates there were in 2005 some 2 billion insect consumers worldwide.” [1]
NOTES: © Jadi Campbell 2017. All photos © Uwe Hartmann. To see more of Uwe’s animal photos and pics from our trips go to viewpics.de. Fun animal names from www.writers-free-reference.com, Mother Nature Network and www.reference.com. Go to this Wikipedia page: /List of endangered spiders. [1] The practice of eating insects is known as entomophagy Wikipedia: Entomophagy
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If they’re deep fried I’d do it Jadi
You are a brave man.
Fried spiders might not be a bad idea… I have enough around my house for a good dinner!
I know they eat insects, so if you eat a spider do you eat a bunch of flies second hand?
Not something I’d choose to eat. But in a pinch…. (shivers)… probably salty and crunchy. :-D.
with a soft, custardy filling
When I try to comment on your blog (which is quite frequently) 99% of the time I get a download saying the server is undergoing maintenance or at capacity. Maybe you want to look into that.
Alison
Thanks Alison – I don’t know what the issue may be. I will certainly check. Is anyone else who reads me having similar problems? Readers, please let me know!
ewww ewwww ewwwww. We saw some bugs for sale that were still alive at a market in Laos.
Alison
Fresh is best!