What do insects eat? |
by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

A snack that bugs you!
Did you know that in certain parts of the world, there are people who actually eat bugs?! Not all insects are edible, but certain kinds of bugs can actually be eaten!
If you were going to eat a bug, which bug would you pick and why? (Remember, some bugs could be bad for you and not all of them should be eaten, so just use your imagination and don't go out into the garden and prepare your own snack.)
There are about a million different known species of insects in the world, and many of them have their own favorite foods!
Lots of insects eat plants – think of a caterpillar you might have once seen in the garden, munching on a leaf! Some insects also eat nectar or sap. Other insects eat things that are naturally decaying. Certain kinds of insects, like lice, also get their food by living off other animals. Many insects will also eat human foods. Roaches and flies, for example, are particularly known to love crumbs and garbage. – Yum!
Lots of insects eat plants – think of a caterpillar you might have once seen in the garden, munching on a leaf! Some insects also eat nectar or sap. Other insects eat things that are naturally decaying. Certain kinds of insects, like lice, also get their food by living off other animals. Many insects will also eat human foods. Roaches and flies, for example, are particularly known to love crumbs and garbage. – Yum!
A snack that bugs you!
Did you know that in certain parts of the world, there are people who actually eat bugs?! Not all insects are edible, but certain kinds of bugs can actually be eaten!
If you were going to eat a bug, which bug would you pick and why? (Remember, some bugs could be bad for you and not all of them should be eaten, so just use your imagination and don't go out into the garden and prepare your own snack.)

- "Insect." Britannica Junior Encyclopedia. Britannica Online for Kids. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 23 June 2011.
- Hahn, Jeffrey D. and Mark E. Ascerno. “Cockroaches.” College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences. 2005. University of Minnesota Extension. 23 Jun. 2011
- Mosbacker, Linda. “Insects – Flies.” Activities. Utah Education Network. 23 Jun. 2011
- Guynup, Sharon and Nicolas Ruggia. “For Most People, Eating Bugs Is Only Natural.” 15 Ju. 2004. National Geographic. 23 Jun. 2011







