One rule of thumb that most survivalists endorse is to avoid brightly colored insects. This is usually a way for bugs to say “Stay away from me.” If a bug is extremely pungent, it’s best to keep them away for your mouth. That shouldn’t be too hard right?
There are basically 15 different orders of insects that are edible:
• Orthoptera - Examples are grasshoppers, locusts, crickets and cockroaches.
• Hemiptera & Homoptera - They are also known as tree bugs. They are things like cicades, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers and shield bugs.
• Hymenoptera - These are identified as sawflies, wasps, bees and ants.
• Diptera - Also known as flies, gnats and midges.
• Coleoptera - These include beetles and ladybugs.
• Lepidoptera - Butterflies and moths are edible.
• Megaloptera - Alderflies and dobsonflies are examples of Megaloptera.
• Odonata & Ephemetoptera - Dragonflies, mayflies and damselflies are in these orders
• Trichoptera - Caddisflies
• Plecoptera - Another name for stoneflies
• Neuroptera - Lacewings and antlions
• Isoptera - These are termites
Many people will tell you that the trick to eating bugs is to cook them. Even if a bug has harmful toxins or venom, boiling will usually negate the effect. Many bugs with hard shells – things like beetles – can carry parasites and need to be cooked before eating.