Insects In Ecosystem

Singapore's food watchdog on Monday said it has approved some 16 species of insects like crickets, grasshoppers and locusts for human consumption, adding to the internationally-renowned menu of global foods including Chinese and Indian dishes in the multi-ethnic city-state. The much-awaited announcement comes to the delight of industry players who have been gearing supply and catering in Singapore to insects grown in China, Thailand and Vietnam, The Straits Times newspaper reported. The approved insects include various species of crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, mealworms and silkworms. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said that those intending to import or farm insects for human consumption or livestock feed must meet SFA's guidelines, including providing documentary proof that the imported insects are farmed in regulated establishments with food safety controls and are not harvested from the wild. Insects that are not on SFA's list of 16 will have to undergo an evaluation to ensur

Interestingly, while India's honey output has increased since 2005-06 by nearly 240 per cent, exports have bounced by over 260 per cent

The report also states that the dragonflies generally have a short life span of about a few weeks only

The park has over 40 species of butterflies, honeybees, birds and insects

Govt asserts desert locusts have not impacted rabi crops and efforts are on to eliminate the insects before monsoon in order to save kharif

India should have been better prepared for the locust invasion

Central and northern states aren't ideal breeding grounds and South India might not see any attack; Rajasthan will be under threat for next few months

The local residents and farmers have been enlightened on the subject, while the village level committees and bodies have been mobilised to make a coordinated effort against the threat

In Rajasthan, which has been worst hit, officials say 90,000 hectares in 20 districts have been affected; standing crop in 4,000 hectares in Sri Ganganagar, 100 hectares in Nagaur has been destroyed

Higher than normal temperatures have helped locusts spread more rapidly in different parts of the states

This insect grows exponentially and an average locust swarm, believe it or not, can have 8 million critters, which can devour as much food in one day as 2,500 people or 10 elephants

Approximately 60% of birds rely on insects for food, 80% of wild plants for pollination