Bug appetit: Pest-control booth gets attention by offering edible insects

Some visitors to the Heartland Home and Garden Show at the Show Me Center were in for an unusual treat at the Bug Zero Professional Pest Services booth.

Salt-and-vinegar crickets, chocolate-covered ants and spiced larvae all were on the menu at what Bug Zero called "Bug Appetit."

When Kelton Horrell, 10, and his father, Adam, of Gordonville decided to try some of the chocolate-covered ants, they said they were pleasantly surprised.

"It really just tasted like chocolate," Kelton said.

"Kind of like eating a wafer," his dad said of the crickets.

Patrick Nenninger, left, of Advance, Missouri, accepts a challenge by Chris Horrell to eat a bug at the Bug Zero exhibit of the Heartland Home and Garden Show on Saturday at the Show Me Center. Nenninger chose a Mexican-spice larva, and Horrell preferred a bacon-and-cheese cricket. More photos from the home show are in a gallery at semissourian.com.Fred Lynch

Kelton was adamant it was the first time he had eaten an insect, although his father seemed less than convinced.

Chris Horrell and Sean Blankenship of Bug Zero said the bugs had been a pretty successful conversation-starter.

"We've probably had about 10 to 15 people come past and try [an insect] each of the days," Horrell said.

"We've definitely had a lot more this year than we had last year," Blankenship added.

They said the previous day, an entomologist had stopped by for a discussion of why Americans are so grossed out by the idea of munching an insect.

Insects cooked by various methods are recognized as popular cuisine -- and good protein sources -- in other areas of the world, Horrell said.

Conversely, some people in places where insects are common food are similarly put off by our seafood habits.

"Shrimp, for example, are wet and slimy," Horrell said. "Those people would say that's just disgusting."

The bugs, which Horrell said they got from an educational supplier, weren't for sale; they were just free samples to help promote the pest-control business.

"Some people like to joke and say these are bugs that we've taken [from clients]," Horrell joked. "But that's obviously not true."

tgraef@semissourian.com

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