Edible Insects in Mexican Culture
Overview of Entomophagy
Cultural and historical context in México
The custom of eating insects as food, known as entomophagy, is one that has existed for ages and throughout numerous civilizations. About two billion people worldwide, mostly in countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, regularly consume insects as part of their diet. Eating a variety of insects, such as caterpillars, beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers, is part of this habit. Insects are highly nutritious, rich in protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. They are considered a sustainable alternative to traditional livestock due to their efficient feed-to-meat conversion rates, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and minimal use of arable land and water.
Insects have been attributed sacred status in many ancient cultures, highlighting their importance beyond just nutrition. This reverence extended to a variety of edible insects around the world, including:
- Beetles (Coleoptera): 468 species
- Ants, Wasps, and Bees (Hymenoptera): 351 species
- Grasshoppers and Crickets (Orthoptera): 267 species
- Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera): 253 species
- True Bugs (Hemiptera): 102 species
- Cicadas (Homoptera): 78 species
- Termites (Isoptera): 61 species
- Flies (Diptera): 34 species
- Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata): 29 species
In Mexico, the consumption of insects has deep historical roots, dating back to pre-Columbian times. Certain edible insects were highly valued and were even used as tributes to Aztec emperors. These included:
- Escamoles (ant larvae)
- Gusano de maguey (maguey worm)
- Certain butterflies
These insects held significant cultural and economic importance. If a totemic insect, considered sacred, was not consumed, there was a risk that it would not be available in sufficient numbers for future use as a food source. About 89% of recorded associations with insects in Mexican culture are positive (Ramos-Elorduy, 2004). These insects were not only seen as sacred but also played significant roles in the cultural and religious practices of ancient civilizations.
Insect Species Consumption by Federal Entity
According to the 2004 sampling of edible insects conducted by Ramos-Elorduy in various states of the country, the state of Chiapas ranked first with a total of 159 edible insect species, followed by the State of Mexico with 152 species, Hidalgo with 143 species, Oaxaca with 134 species, and Veracruz with 112 species. The most consumed orders were Hymenoptera with 407 species, Hemiptera with 231 species, Coleoptera with 226 species, Orthoptera with 175 species, and Lepidoptera with 126 species.
Nutritional Profiling of Edible Insects
With a wide variety of vital elements, edible insects are a promising source of nourishment. The nutritional value might differ dramatically across different insect orders. For example, insects that belong to the Orthoptera and Coleoptera orders, such as mealworms and crickets, have a high protein content—60–70% of their dry weight is protein. This has more protein than traditional meat sources like chicken or beef. Furthermore, important amino acids like methionine and lysine, which are necessary for human health but are not always present in diets based only on plants, are frequently found in edible insects.
In terms of fat content, edible insects can contain healthy unsaturated fats, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are beneficial for cardiovascular health. Moreover, they are rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium, which are crucial for various physiological functions. These nutritional attributes make edible insects a sustainable and nutritious alternative to conventional meat sources, potentially addressing global food security challenges while reducing environmental impact compared to livestock farming. As research continues to explore the nutritional benefits of different insect orders, their integration into mainstream diets could offer substantial health and environmental benefits globally.
