If you’ve ever had a hankering to taste Iowa-fried cicadas, you’ll have your chance this weekend. Ginny Mitchell, education program coordinator at the Iowa State University Insect Zoo, says one popular element of the annual “Bug Village” event is edible insects. Mitchell collected hundreds of the 13- and 17-year cicadas this spring which she plans to air-fry, sprinkle with seasoning, and serve them to visitors on the Ames campus on Saturday.
The issue of eating insects is the subject of debate among vegetarians. Those who refuse to eat meat because of environmental reasons see the very small impact raising and eating insects has on the planet, so they may choose to consider insects as -not- meat, while other more strict vegans disagree. Whatever you call it, Mitchell says making a meal of insects can be extremely healthy.
While many of us may be hesitant to put an air-fried cicada in our mouths, no matter what sauce is on top, others are more adventurous. Mitchell has been studying — and eating — all sorts of insects for years and she plans to plate up a variety of cicada delicacies during the weekend event.
This spring, two broods of cicadas emerged in eastern Iowa (and across the Midwest) that had been slumbering underground for 13 and 17 years. That simultaneous emergence only happens once every 220 years, so Mitchell took a four-day road trip to bag up hundreds of specimens of the six-legged creatures.
Others were using cicadas in tomato sauce over pasta, or even as a pizza topping. In addition to the edible insects at Saturday’s event in Ames, there will be a Bug Costume Contest and more than 150 species of living arthropods on display, with many available for hands-on inspection. Find out more online at www.ent.iastate.edu/insectzoo/.
