Edible Insects

From crunchy crickets to nutty fly grubs, NOVA takes a tasty look at insect foods and how they could benefit our health and our warming planet.

Unlike mammals—including those we raise to eat—insects can't generate their own body heat. This physiological difference has a major effect on the quantity of resources they need to grow.

Our ancient ancestor Australopithecus likely foraged for termite larvae using tools made from bone. This source of fat could have helped brain development and growth, anthropologists believe.