Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-29
ATlNG INSECTS IN SELF-DEFENSE
ny FREDERIC J. HAsKI:

WASHINGTON. May 2s.-Not long
ago DR.. l.. o. Howard. chief of the
Bureau Of Entomology. which is that
branch Of the Department of Agricul-
ture devoted to the study of Insects.
caused TO be dug up on the department
grounds number of big. fat. white
grubs. or garden slugs Of the sort you
frequently turn UP when digging for
bait. These were not intended for bait.
however. DR. Howard turned them
over to another government scientist,
DR.. Langworthy. who wears the title
OF chief Of tho Bureau OF Home Eco
nomics, and knows more about cook
ing than anybody else in Washington.
pr. Laneworthy presented the worms
to his most skillful chef. who made Of
them rich broth. thickened with
chopped lettuce leaves and seasoned
with salt. pepper and paprika. In this
unusual form the grubs returned to the
initiator Of the enterprise. DR.. Howard,
who consumed cup OF the worm
soup with great Rusto and proclaimed
1t delicious. one Of h!s assistants
cournGeousiy backed the chief. and he
too. said the soup was good. There
was no argument.
These conservative scientists were
not merely INDUCING an exotic taste
for an insectivorous diet. Neither Of
them had ever knowingly consumed
any insects before. But they shared
serious scientific conviction that In
sects are an excellent human food
which IS being almost entirely neglect
ed by civilized man: and they wished
at once to put their beliefs to the
test. and to give practical demon
stration Of the edibility Of bugs
The argument in favor Of eating
insects is literally unanSwerable. Like
wise the prejudice among most civil
Lied peoples against eating insects Is
almost insupcrable. So the situation Is
n deadlock. \ sufficient number Of
exalted examples, like that of Or.
Howard. might suffice to break IL II
New York society, for example, would
take up cock chafer on toast and grass
hopper omelettc. there is little doubt
but what these dishes would come
into general favor. An administration
really DESTROYS OF lowering the cost of
living might do much by having some
Of the more savory native insects
served at the White House table DR.
Howard has made beginning Let
whose has the courage follow him.
Other Food becoming Scnrce
The matter liz of far more moment
than appears ut glance. The popula-
ton of the earth Is increasing at a
great rate, and everywhere food Is be-
coming more difficult TO obtain Es-
pecially Is this true OF animal food
Red meat, fish, shelfsh and the
crustacca are becoming scarce The
last of these. the crustacea, including
the Holsters shrimps and crabs. are
first cousins to the insects, having the
same sort of flesh and structure. Yet
the lobster scars to unheard-of prices
and is threatened with extinction.
while his near relative, the June bug,
has escaped all consideration as an
article OF diet.
Our refusal to eat insects is incon.
sistent squeamish and ridiculous-that
is apparent. This is not the end OF
the matter. however. IL may be stated
with almost literal truth that sooner or
later we Will haN< to eat the insects
in self-defense. Modern life on this
planet Is battle between man and the
insects-and the latter are in every
physical respect better fitted to sur
vive. All other forms of life have been
subjugated by man SO far as he has
come in contact with them Only the
insect remains in almost undiminished
numbers, and continues to menace the
life and well-hcinS OF the human race.
Grasshoppers descend upon our crops
and leave whole States and nations TO
famine. Several Central American re-
publics are now In a starving condi-
ton as result OF these pests. The
boil weevil. creeping southwark, threat
ems the life Of n great industry. Moths
devour the shade trees of whole cities
house flies take thousands OF lives by
acting as disease carriers, and the mos
quito. laden with yellow fever and
malaria. kills more men than any wild
animal that ever inhabited the earth
VIII Insects Survive Mnn.
SO modern life is in very real
sense a desperate struggle between
man and the insects. Some scientists
believe that 1t is the insects who will
survive. and that they will own the
earth long after every other form OF
life has persisted DR.. Howard believes
that man will ultimately overcome the
( insects by reason Of his superior in
telligence: and the valiant battle which
his department is waging against the
insect enemies Of American agriculture
is an impressive demonstration of his
theory. But whether we are to con.
quer or not. it is certain that the strug.
gle is really desperate, and 1T promises
to become more so as man extends
his dominion over the tropics, which
are the most productive part OF the
earth. and have so far been kept in a
state of wilderness largely by the In
sects. who carry death to every In.
truder.
Now in this struggle for existence, !,
is evident that our enemies have one
great advantage over us in that they
live upon the spells Of war, while we
do not. a pest OF grasshoppers de-
| 'ScendS upon Kansas, and lays waste the
country. The farmers go forth witt
poison and traps to destroy them
There is heavy loss on both sides. Blu
the graSshoppers i've unon tho sub
stance OF the farmers. while every CEN
which the farmer spends in destroying
the insects Is a complete loss. Now
Just suppose that roasted and saltec
grasshopper was a staple food with
civilized man as 1t is in North Africa
Corporations would pay the farmers
large sums for the grasshopper rights
Of their lands. >The insects would be
gathered by the ton in huge machines
designed for the DurpoSe, and Skinned
to all parts Of the world The crops