I learned a new name of an insect – Gandhi Puk. I knew in my language. We called it Lachi. In another language it is called Taari. The insect is another variety of this insect, Tessaratomidae. But this one live on leaves and trees. The one I mentioned lives under rocks. I wish I know the scientific name.
Photo: Thaibugs.com
It can be consumed and usually found under rocks by the river banks in winter during the day. Towards evening the insects would fly in low heights. Kids often used sticks to hunt them.
Children had a different strategy to collect the insect in Seppa town. See pic
While it is considered a delicacy, I know a couple of people who suffered food poisoning after eating this insect. So it is now a couple of decades I had not eaten.
1 comment:
Hi there, interesting reading your blogpost on Gandhi Puk. I have heard that eating this insect can lead to serious health issues- as the insect has a certain chemical compound that once consumed can make the person behave like a Gandhi Puk itself and has to be hospitalised. Is that true? Also, what is the season for this occurrence and in what form/dish is it consumed?
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