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Entomophagophobia, (from Greek ἔντομος éntomos, "insect(ed)", φᾰγεῖν phăgein, "to eat", and phago "fear of" which together means "fear of insect eating") is the fear or aversion of eating insects. Though not specifically recognized as a phobia, it is similar to entomophobia or insectophobia, the fear of insects (note the "phago," or Greek word to eat, in entomophagophobia). This phobia primarily affects, or is mildly common in, those in the United States and Europe as the general reaction to the eating of insects is distaste and disbelief.

Symptoms

As with other simple phobias, entomophagophobia reflects a persistent, irrational fear coupled with the desire to avoid that fear, this case being a fear of eating insects.^[1] Symptoms can include but are not limited to, discomfort, distaste, fear, anxiety and paranoia. Entomophagophobia can range from an extreme fear of eating anything with slight traces of insects to the mild, and more common, general disgust when considering insects as edible. In some cases the fear and paranoia can be so great that food is regularly thrown out due to suspicion of insect contamination.

Eating insects (Entomophagy)

Eatings insects is generally seen as acceptable in much of the world and some countries depend on insects as a main dietary component. America and much of Europe are then, according to National Geographic, a “cultural minority” ^[2] and one of the few areas that experiences a general distaste of insects even though eating insects is a commonplace occurrence elsewhere. Illustrating the general worry of insects in food, the United States Food and Drug Administration even lists permissible levels of insects in various foods and canned goods and it has been suggested that there may be as many as 56 insect parts in every peanut butter and jelly sandwich ^[3]. It could be this inadvertent insect eating that is the reason that entomophagophobia occurs in America and Europe, even though insects are purposefully eaten daily in Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. Americans and Europeans essentially seem to have an overall phobia for insects slight though it generally may be. Afore mentioned, the entomophagophobia can take on multiple stages of seriousness the worst being constant paranoia and anxiety of insects entering food. It may be due to urban myths, popular culture, entertainment and misunderstanding that entomophagophobia seems apparent in America today.

Part of the fear of eating insects comes from the unknown factors of their ingestion. Inadvertently eating insects today has become a thing of myth and urban legend. According to the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Washington state, eating an average of four spiders a year in ones sleep is scientifically unproven and illogical [4]. Widespread acknowledgment of this myth has led people to fear that insects, though still harmless and posing no health hazard, can inadvertently enter the human system and harm them. Thus the fear of eating insects has continued without scientific reason.

Another aspect of the fear of insects comes from entertainment and the media. Horror shows such as “Them!,” “Mimic” and “Arachnophobia” all based on insects as human threats, help to convey the disgust and discomfort with insects to the public and such films also help sway viewers into rejecting insects as a possible food source. The television series Fear Factor featured stunts that involved eating insects that were generally considered fearful or disgusting. In one particular episode, contestants were required to eat a sausage filled with numerous insects including night crawlers, mealworms, cockroaches and stick beetles. Another media example is the Travel Channel series Bizarre Foods, where the host Andrew Zimmern, travels the world in search of strange foods including insects such as grasshoppers and scorpions. Part of America and Europe's overall fear of eating bugs could possibly come from such media.

The most reasonable explanation of entomophagophobia is the social presentation of insects in America. From an early age, children are taught to avoid insects because of their sting, bite or smell. Insects, especially spiders, are considered frightful while other insects, like flies, mosquitoes, earwigs and moths, are considered nuisances. Parents teach children that insects can be irritating, harmful or dangerous and that they must avoid or kill them. By so doing, parents are putting insects and fear together, a combination that could result in entomophagophobia and the rejection of entomophagy Another common aspect parents teach their children is that of the harmful diseases associated with insects. Children are taught to be afraid of insects around food since they might become sick or infected because of them. Children then have the potential to grow up with these ideas and become fearful or uncomfortable of eating insects as a source of food.

It also may be considered that Americans have luxuries that other countries do not regarding food and food preparation. Instead of butchering their own animals, the many Americans purchase their meat from grocery stores and supermarkets that have prepared the meat in forms that do not resemble the initial product, ie. the meat is packaged and wrapped in selective cuts. As such, Americans may have the tendency to dissociate the food they're eating with the actual animal. When insects then are considered as a food, the whole creature usually is involved and as such the consumer is very much aware of the overall product. Since Americans are not used to eating their protein as an whole bodied creature, but rather a choice cut of premium prepared meat, they are prone to reject it or fear it. Entomophagophobia, in its simplest form of disgust, occurs partially because of the blindness Americans have in the true nature of their food. It can then proceed to become a phobia such that people will develop a serious fear of eating insects.

Overcoming Entomophagophobia

Ironically, eating insects is surprisingly frequent in America, at least figuratively speaking. Gummy worms and gummy bugs have become popular candy treats and various fruit snacks and lollipops are shaped like insects as well ^[4]. However, slow though it may be, the entomophagophobia or disgust people have with bugs is beginning to fade with the subtle sweets shaped like insects. Less figurative in the step of overcoming the fear of eating insects is the production of the Cricket Lick-Its, a flavored sucker with an edible cricket inside ^[5]. Other candied insects include scorpions, worms, ants and butterflies. It should also be taken into account the origin of honey. Americans and Europeans alike enjoy the sweet taste of honey which in reality is regurgitated bee fluid consisting of the nectar of flowers. Since many people don't think twice about what honey actually is, entomophagophobia is typically a fear of the unknown or unfamiliarity with insects rather than a specific phobia.

The more determined person can attempt to face their fear of eating bugs by purchasing an insect cookbook. Entertaining with Insects for example, includes procedures on cleaning insects, rearing them, and purchasing insects through numerous suppliers, along with many recipes involving the addition, though not necessarily main ingredient, of insects. Such books encourage the acceptance of insects as a dependable and healthy food source.

Lack of Entomophagophobia in other countries

Many countries and areas use insects as a part of the diet including Australia, Asia, Africa and Latin and South America. Their apparent lack of fear comes from the familiarity of insects since birth and the customs of the land. This gives evidence that those in America and Europe suffer from entomophagophobia because of traditions regarding the danger or irritation of insects given them at a young age. To illustrate the widespread acceptance of eating insects worldwide, the following countries are briefly taken into account.

Botswana and South Africa

Botswana and South Africa specialize in the gathering and sale of the mopane worm, the edible caterpillar of the emperor moth (Imbrasia belina). More profitable than selling livestock and with three times the protein content than beef by unit weight ^[6] , the mopane worm trade is a serious business in which whole families camp in temporary housing for weeks at a time. The trade is very profitable and as such threatens the extinction of the mopane worm. Grasshoppers and termites are also gathered and eaten in addition to various other foods.

Uganda

Uganda also features grasshoppers, termites and a similar caterpillar-like grub called the masinya or palm worms. The insects are eaten in a variety of ways, from boiling the masinya in their own bodily oil to sautéing them with onions. Termites are considered a wonderful snack and includes eating the termites raw from their mound or drying them for immediate or later use.

Australia

Aboriginal Australians enjoy the delicacy of the Witchetty grub that infest witchetty bushes in the Outback. Milky white and some almost an inch in diameter, the witchetty grub is a favorite with locals. The honey ant, a peculiar ant with a massive “honey” filled abdomens are also eaten, much like candy.

Japan

The Japanese offer a variety of edible insects that generally come in canned form. Including caddis fly larve, baby bees, grasshoppers, and silkworm pupae, the Japanese generally eat the insects straight out of the can. Cooked in soy sauce and sugar, the insects have flavors ranging from shrimp to peanut butter.

China

The People's Republic of China includes a very large variety of insects both live and preserved. Markets include marine worms, dried bumblebees, centipedes, scorpions, silk-worm pupae and water beetles, which, due to their exoskeleton, are eaten much like hard shelled crab. Scorpions in particular are popular, and many people raise them at home to sell. Another feature of Chinese markets is caterpillar fungus, a fungus that consumes the caterpillar and creates a sort of mummy of it. The caterpillar fungus acts like a stimulant and remedy for illness and is therefore valued more than typical insects. Ants are also included in the Chinese diet, consumed both whole and in the liquid form of ant wine.

Thailand

Thailand procures insects both small and large for eating. The smallest may seem insignificant to Americans, however ants and termites retain significant food value for the Thai people. Among other insects, Thailand features bamboo worms, but one of the most significant insects is the giant water bug. Said to be very tough when eaten, almost like beef jerky, the giant water bugs are also used in the manufacture of nbam pla mang da, or Thai fish sauce.

Cambodia

Close neighbor to Thailand, Cambodia also includes insects on its menu of edible foods. Local markets can feature cicadas, deep-fried crickets, ant eggs and tarantulas (which are said to be greasy when eaten). Crickets are also gathered by hand and eaten by locals instead of purchased at markets. Weaver ants can be shaken from trees and tarantulas can be dug up, other alternatives from market shopping.

Indonesia

Indonesia sports insects not eaten elsewhere, particularity the dragonfly. Captured especially by children to help feed their hungry families, the dragonflies are caught using bamboo poles and then cooked in coconut oil. Other options include frying and salting the dragonflies and adding them to dishes. In poorer parts of the country, sago grubs are gathered by labor intensive sago palm processing which involves pulverizing the tree with blunt axes. The grubs are then skewered, barbecued and eaten off the stick. Spiders are also hunted in Indonesia along with stink bugs which are then roasted and eaten whole.

Mexico

By far the closest country to America, Mexico accepts insects as part of the diet. Considered delicacies, Mexicans offer stink bugs (euchistus taxcoensis) to guests on special occasions as well as supplying the more common grasshoppers as a staple food. Red and white agave worms as well as ants are also sold and eaten in Mexico. The agave worms are common in bottles of tequila or mezcal as proof that the alcohol is not watered down.

Peru

Peru offers various grubs and worms, of which are included the tayno kuro worms that live in the dried stalks of the arawanku plant, the orange and black waykjuiro worms, fish fly larvae called chanchu chanchu, and large chiro worms that can grow up to six inches long. Peruvians also eat these insects raw or cooked in oil, sometimes with chilies.

Venezuela

Some Venezuelans, particularly those in or near the rain forest, eat the general types of insects, the termites and palm grubs, but also eat something different than anywhere else. It is the theraphosa leblondi, the world's largest spider, a tarantula the size of a dinner plate. Said to taste like smoky crab, the theraphosa leblondi (see Goliath birdeater) is gathered in a crablike manner by sliding a knotted vine down the burrow entrance and waiting for the spider to grab the knot. The spiders are then cooked, legs removed, hair taken off and eaten.

Ancient Societies

Entomophagy is not a recent pursuit. According to the book Bugs in the System, the earliest known human records documenting entomophagy dates back to around 700 B.C. in which servants of King Sennacherib of Assyria carried locusts on sticks in preparation for a feast. In both the Old Testament and the Mishnah Torah, guidelines of acceptable insects are given. Both John the Baptist and Mohammed are said to have eaten locusts while in the wilderness or with disciples. Aristotle of the ancient Greeks wrote “the larva of the cicada on attaining full size in the ground becomes a nymph; then it tastes best, before the husk is broken...”^[7] The Romans, the last western civilization to indulge in more general insect eating, considered some caterpillars as delicacies. This evidence suggests that entomophagophobia is a relatively recent fear. ^[8] For more detailed reading see book Man Eating Bugs under Further Reading.

Health Concerns

The fear of eating insects most likely does not come from the health concerns associated with eating insects since it is generally in favor of beneficial as opposed to being detrimental. Many insects, particularly caterpillars, are high in protein and much higher in vitamins and minerals than beef, chicken, pork or fish. Insect gathering is also more energy efficient than big game hunting, and it has been projected that, in the case of Mormon crickets gathered near the Great Salt Lake in Utah, roughly eleven times the calories can be acquired per hour invested than hunting ^[9]. It is worthy to note however, that it is considered good practice to wash insects before consuming them, yet clearly adverse affects of eating bugs have not been present since large populations outside of the U.S. and Europe eat insects frequently with no detrimental consequence. The cause of entomophagophobia then must be caused by the American and European societies that look down upon insects as a food source.