Studies on insect nutritive elements have shown that insect bodies are rich in proteins, amino acids, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements. Insects have attracted the attention of non‐specialists and researchers as a complementary protein resource. As the human population increases, the lack of food resources has become increasingly problematic. It is therefore necessary to find and develop new food resources to meet requirements. Insects will be an important nutritional resource for humans and their production is worthy of development considering they have high nutritive value, are rich in species and there are huge insect populations.

China is one of the oldest countries that consumes edible insects. Eating insects in China dates back more than 3000 years. In Chinese ancient classical texts, not only have species of edible insects been recorded, but also the ways of catching and cooking them have been introduced ( Chou 1980 ; Zhou 1982 ). As society developed and human living conditions improved, some knowledge of eating edible insects has been lost, but the custom of eating insects is still maintained in some places in China, especially in the minority areas of Yunnan Province of the southwest. The local minorities often serve edible insects such as bamboo insects, Chinese caterpillar fungus, locusts, ants, termites, bees, wasp larvae and silkworm pupae to important guests. Eating insects is very popular and they can be ordered at many restaurants all year round in Yunnan Province and other places in China.

Common species of edible insects in China

There are many species of edible insects in China. Different edible insects are consumed in different regions depending on the distribution of insects and local food preferences. It is believed that many edible insects do not have scientific names. At present, 178 common species of edible insects have been identified and named in China. They are from 96 genera, 53 families and 11 orders. Among them, the nutritive and mineral elements of more than 50 species have been analyzed (Chen & Feng 1999). Many common edible insects belong to Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Four stages of insects are edible. However, larvae are most often consumed.

In Ephemerida, there are three to four edible species in China. Ephemerella jianghongensis is a common species. Local people use both naiads and adults as food in Yunnan, China. The nutritive elements of E. jianghongensis have been analyzed (Feng et al. 1999a).

Six to seven species of dragonfly larvae of Odonata are edible. The common species are Crocothemis servilia, Gomphus cuneatus and Lestes praemorsa. The nutritive elements of three species have been analyzed (Feng et al. 2001b). Naiad is the common stage for eating.

In Isoptera, sixteen species from three genera and two families are recorded as food. The nutritive elements of three species have been analyzed. The common species are Macrotermes annandalei, M. barneyi, M. acrocephalus, Odontotermes formosanus, O. yunnanensis and Coptotermes formosanus (Huang & Lin 1989; Lu et al. 1992). Local people often consume adult insects.

In Orthoptera, locusts and crickets are common edible insects. Nine species in eight genera and three families are edible. The nutritive elements of two species have been analyzed. The common species are Oxya chinensis, Gryllotalpa orientalis, Gryllotalpa unispina, Gryllus bimaculatus and Tarbinskiellus portentosus (Qiao et al. 1992; Chen & Feng 1999). Both nymphs and adults are edible after frying in oil.

Seven species from seven genera and five families are edible in Homoptera. The nutritive elements of four species have been analyzed. The common edible insect species are Crytotympana atrata, Lawana imitata and Darthula hardwicki (Feng et al. 1999b). Both nymphs and adults of edible insects in the order are edible.

Seven species from six genera and three families are edible in Hemiptera. The nutritive elements of four species have been analyzed. The common species are Tessaratoma papillosa, Cyclopelta parva, Eusthenes saevus and Mictis tenebrosa (Feng et al. 2000b). Both nymphs and adults of edible insects in the order are edible.

Common edible species in Coleoptera are Stromatium longicone, Sphenoptera kozlovi, Tomcus piniperda, Oryctes rthinoceros and Cyrtotrachelus bugueti. Thirty species from 25 genera and eleven families are recorded as food in China. The nutritive elements of 13 species have been analyzed (Liu et al. 1998; Ye et al. 1998; Chen & Feng 1999). Many kinds of larvae and adults in this order are edible. Most of them have however, not been studied and named scientifically.

Acanthacorydalis orientalis is only species in Megaloptera, which has been studied. The nutritive elements of A. orientalis have been analyzed (Feng et al. 1999a). Both nymphs and adults of this insect are edible.

The most edible insects are in Lepidoptera in 11 orders, with 70 species from 25 genera and 16 families. Many species are notable edible insects, such as Chinese caterpillar fungus, insect tea (made from the excrement of insects), bamboo insect Chilo fuscidentalis and silkworm Bombyx mori. The nutritive elements of 14 species have been analyzed (Dan et al. 1985; Shen & Luo 1991; Zhang et al. 1991; Zhou & Yang 1993; Zhu & Bao 1995; Chen & Feng, 1999; Feng et al. 2000a,b). In this order, larvae are mainly consumed. Silkworm pupae are also consumed.

In Diptera, two species from two genera and two families are consumed. The larva of housefly Musca domestica is commonly eaten. The nutritive elements of M. domestica have been analyzed (Li et al. 1997; Zhang & Yao 1997). The mass rearing method of the housefly has been well‐developed in China.

In Hymenoptera, 32 species from nine genera and four families have been recorded. Edible wasps are the most common edible insects in summer in Yunnan. Larvae and pupae are often sold with the nest and eaten after deep frying. However, many kinds of edible wasps have not been studied and named. The nutritive elements of 20 species have been analyzed. The common species are bees (Apis cerana, A. mellifera, Megapis dorsata, Micrapis florea), ants (Carebara lignata, Polyrhachis dives, Oecophylla smaragdina, Carebara lignata) and wasps (Vespa analis Buysson, V. basalis, V. bicolor, V. magnifica, V. sorror) (Chen 1983; Rong et al. 1987; Wang et al. 1988; Shen & Luo 1991; Liu & Yuan 1997; Chen & Feng 1999; Feng et al. 2001c).