Insects and snails: Delicacies of Bodo community of Assam.

Knowledge on entomophagy and culinary processing of edible insects has been found among the Bodo community as a part of tradition and culture, which was passed from one generation to another. The present study was aimed at finding the prevailing entomophagy and culinary processing of the insects among the Bodos of Chirang district of Assam. The study was done by interviewing people with semi-structured questionnaires. During discussion it was revealed that eating pupa of eri silkworm (Samia ricini) was the most common in their diet as rearing of S. ricini was common in Chirang district of Assam. Moreover, eating of giant water bug (Lethocerus indicus), field or burrowing crickets (Brachytrupes portentosus), and social wasp (Vespa magnifica) were found common in Chirang district. Along with the insects, a fresh water snail, Brotia costula and Pila globosa were also found to be practised by the community. The results in terms of culinary processing of insects and fresh water snails as practised by the Bodo community of Chirang district, Assam have been enlisted in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]