Insights to the entomophagic and entomotherapeutic traditions among the tribes of the sub-Himalayan West Bengal

Abstract The present study has documented the diversity, way of consumption, and proximate composition of various edible insects by seven tribal communities (namely Boro, Mech, Munda, Nepali, Rabha, Santal, and Toto) of sub-Himalayan West Bengal. Based on semi-structured scheduled questionnaires, 215 respondents have been interviewed, and based on the information provided by them, we have summarised a list of 23 edible insect species belonging to 17 families from 7 orders, viz ., Hymenoptera (7 species), Orthoptera (6), Lepidoptera (4), Coleoptera (2), Isoptera (2), Hemiptera (1), and Dictyoptera (1). Out of seven tribes, Santals are used to consume a greater number of insect species (18 species). Locals use to collect those edible insects from various habitats using traditional collection methods. Some insects are available round the year, and some are seasonal in nature. Depending on insect species, either a particular stage of its life cycle or all the developmental stages are consumed after frying, boiling, roasting, cooking, or sometimes completely raw. Out of 23 species, 16 were documented to have therapeutic value and were utilised by the locals as a remedy for various human disorders and diseases. Analysis of the proximate composition of these edible insects depicted a good amount of protein (29.45-59.51% of dry matter), fat (0.71-56.46% of dry matter), and energy (345.75-659.13 kcal/100 g) content that is comparable to that of commercial meat sources. However, with modernisation, a downward trend was noticed among the youths of the communities on entomophagy practice, which raised an urgent issue to conserve this culture.