Edible insect use by California Indians

Insects are an essential food source for hunter-gatherers since they are ubiquitous, abundant, nutritious, and easily caught. American Indian ethnographies often mention insects used for food, but there are few in-depth studies of ethnoentomology. In this study, literature was exhaustively reviewed to compile a list of all known species of insects and other terrestrial arthropods used as food by California Indians. The nutritional composition of these species, where available, was also compiled from the literature. Based on literature review, productive insect hunting and cooking methods are described and illustrated. This study is important since insects are a neglected yet energy-efficient meat source with potential to alleviate global crises of food shortages and greenhouse gas emissions.