Pine tree emperor moth larva

Great photos and I enjoyed the discussion - so thanks everyone for teaching me something new!

Amazing caterpillar. Looks like there's absolutely no need for ketchup, pepper, salt, chilli..... or even vegemite !

That's a beaufy

Especially like the second photo!

Karen, you don't have to go as far as Australia to eat hundreds of yucky insect dishes! :)

There are many indigenous dishes in Mexico with insects. Oaxaca is famous for its roasted little grasshoppers in Chile and for eating Honey Pot Ants. Here in Chiapas, many people eat the adult female queens of Leaf Cutter Ants. They are collected during the nuptial flights, the wings removed, toasted, and served with chile and lemon. The males aren't eaten because they supposedly taste like urine. There is also a delicacy called "Satz". They are large, juicy, communal (as larvae) caterpillars of a Saturniid moth. They are collected, gutted and fried for eating. They are now very expensive and only some of each year's population are collected for food.

Arthropods are the new trend of research for sustainable food source which contain all the protein, vitamins and minerals we need. Asian countries eat many different insects and that's going to come to our countries as well. So get ready guys :)

Very interesting discussion! I understand that insect larvae are eaten by many aboriginal tribes worldwide as a easy source of protein. I've never eaten anything like this, but I've always said when I finally make it to Australia I will try a witchetty grub! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entomophagy

Bayucca,I am a total vegetarian. Never eaten meat in my life. I love fruits and vegetables so much!My life is fulfilled. :)

Thanks, Fanie! And Jemma, I did not want to eat them either, first, but I am old fashioned. My Grandpa always told us: All things has to be eaten what is on the plate and I told my wife we try everything, she: OK, yes and at the end I was the only one who tried one. Do you eat shrimps? What is the difference between grasshoppers, caterpillars and shrimps? None, all just proteins, OK, for some you need a little bit more sauces or chocolate ;-)...

Beautiful ,but do not want to eat it!

Yes, Fanie is much easier!! Thanks! I once eat a Mopane caterpillar, do you know which caterpillar that was?

incredible, wonderful colorful

Pretty color..:)

Wonderful!

woww... beautiful...

Beautiful but I don't want to eat it!

Beautiful! Did you change your PN-name? Well, bye Rautenbachf and hello Fanie! :) Thank you for the support so far! Regards Tina

Cool spotting! Never seen edible caterpillars.

Wow! Beautiful. It's surprising that they are edible with be bright warning colors. That goes against the rules of entomaphagy:) Awesome photos!

cute little one...