# fat insects **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [June 21, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642 "2001-06-21T15:37:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/1 "2001-06-21T15:37:55Z")
In [this](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfatinsect.html) column, we talk about fat insects. It mentions that if you cut the particular nerve in a fly, so that it doesn’t know its stomach is full, it’ll eat 'til it literally bursts. I’ve heard a rumor that cockroachs, if feed a steady supply of food, keep getting bigger and bigger, their exoskelton growing right along with them. Any truth to this? ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/2 "2001-06-22T05:37:37Z")
Dunno, Freyr, but I’m pretty sure honeypot ants would fill the bill as fat insects. The membranes between exoskeletal plates (term?) stretch to accommodate the ants’ use as storage jars. ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/3 "2001-06-22T10:46:21Z")
Tell you what **Freyr** , I’ll try to raise some monster roaches for you. I need your address to mail the results to you for your inspection. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/4 "2001-06-22T11:27:09Z")
Part of the reasong insects can’t get very fat is because of the way they breath. All insects have an air sack for respiration. If insects grew any larger than they are now, they wouldn’t be able to breathe beacause the air sack wouldn’t have the capacity to get oxygen to the rest of the insect’s body. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/5 "2001-06-22T17:05:13Z")
Of course, no discussion of oversized cockroaches is complete without mention of [The Fabulous Uber-Roach](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=60812) ---
**Author:** ![MyOld85MG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MyOld85MG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyOld85MG)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/6 "2001-06-22T18:06:00Z")
On the one about how insects breathe (Dragwyr)… not air sacks, tracheae. See article: [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?idxref=537495](http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?idxref=537495) Some insects get pretty big - those African beetles that are over 6". I guess they may have some trouble breathing, but they get by. Anyway, that isn’t what’s keeping the little ones from getting fat. Personal experience: You know how college students are (here I mean mainly the guys, as you’ll see). We had, uh, left some rice in a frying pan in the kitchen (which, uh, was otherwise spotless). I got up in the middle of the night and noticed small roach trying to eat a grain of rice that was approximately the size of the roach. Fascinated, I waited until it finished (about two-three minutes). It appeared to have approximately doubled in size. I prodded it and found that it could barely walk. And you know how fast those buggers usually are. But I’m sure it shed the weight pretty fast. “Bloated” does seem a better term. Other than insects that can “get fat”, what about ticks? (Yes, they’re arachnids, not insects.) Their exoskeletons appear to be able to soften and expand quite a bit. As for not being able to stop, I recall (don’t remember where) some researchers found that a tick will latch onto a balloon filled with warm water and gorge until, uh, let’s not go there. Ticks, apparently, have very little in the way of brain and sensory apparatus, because in nature if you find something warm and soft it’s usually something you can suck blood from. So, no ability to taste. No taste? -Van ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/7 "2001-06-23T02:10:49Z")
\*\*BooBoo316 wrote: Tell you what Freyr, I’ll try to raise some monster roaches for you. I need your address to mail the results to you for your inspection.\*\* No thank you! Just send photos…I don’t need any uber-roaches crawling around my place. Thanks for the link, **Chronos**!! It seems like the cube-square law would prevent really big roaches, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Maxwell\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Maxwell\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxwell_Edison)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/8 "2001-06-23T02:51:08Z")
I have a poster on my wall that has a picture of those honey pot ants don Jaime is talking about. Their abdomens are huge, white and egg-shaped. Only traces of their abdominal exoskeleton can be seen. What is apparent is a kind of white, veined tissue full of honeydew. ---
**Author:** ![pcalkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@pcalkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pcalkins)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/9 "2001-06-23T04:26:46Z")
I’m more interested in a general question- do insects store calories as fat, or not? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/10 "2001-06-23T14:16:18Z")
Answer–yes. From [http://www.eatbug.com/](http://www.eatbug.com/) , the nutritional breakdown of a cricket. > [@](#): > > 100 grams of cricket contains: 121 calories, 12.9 grams of protein, 5.5 g. of fat, 5.1 g. of carbohydrates, 75.8 mg. calcium, 185.3 mg. of phosphorous, 9.5 mg. of iron, 0.36 mg. of thiamin, 1.09 mg. of riboflavin, and 3.10 mg. of niacin. [http://members.aol.com/keninga/insects.htm](http://members.aol.com/keninga/insects.htm) > [@](#): > > . Insects are low in carbohydrates, high in protein along with fat and calories which are needed in a survival situation. For example, crickets and grasshoppers have approximately 24 percent protein. Grasshoppers have 200 calories per 100 grams (approximately 900 calories per pound - some studies show up to 1,200 calories per pound) with 7-9 percent fat comparing to steak at 250 calories per 100 grams. Also crickets have amino acids required in the human diet. Beef provides 200-300 calories per 100 grams with 18 percent protein and 18 percent fat. > > \< snip \> > > _In 1970 at the United States Air Force Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama,_ I found the following information in a Survival Nutrition Information Bulletin #8 - Insects as a Food Source of Nutrients. [_italics mine_] > > Insects Nutritive Value > > Termites Protein (36%), Fat (100 grams fried = 561 calories) > > Caterpillars (smooth skin) - Fat (13.7%), Carbohydrates (6.1%) - Any type eating nontoxic plants > > Silkworm and Pupae - Vitamin A, Fat (14.2%), Minerals (15%) > > Water Bugs - Protein (38.1%), Fat (6.1%) Ah yes, “Your Tax Dollars At Work…” And in another part of the world: [http://ss.jircas.affrc.go.jp/kanko/newsletter/nl1998/no.14/yagi.html](http://ss.jircas.affrc.go.jp/kanko/newsletter/nl1998/no.14/yagi.html) > [@](#): > > Termites are prepared in various ways for eating. In Enzaro village, Maragoli, it is popular to lightly fry the termites in their own fat over a low heat, add a little salt and sometimes remove the wings. Somebody has to say it: “Bugs–it’s what’s for dinner…” And I like the part about “…and sometimes remove the wings”. Regular, or Extra Crispy? I love the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Yanega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@Doug\_Yanega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Yanega)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/11 "2001-06-24T17:48:20Z")
Freyr wrote: “I’ve heard a rumor that cockroachs, if feed [sic] a steady supply of food, keep getting bigger and bigger, their exoskelton growing right along with them.” Totally false. Once an adult (technically, an “imago”), all Pterygote insects stop molting. Even tarantulas have problems - females can live a very long time, and molt repeatedly, but males cannot molt; the genitalia are too complex, and _if_ a male tries to molt, the molting process screws up (almost literally) when it reaches the genitals - which, naturally, leads to either death or functional sterility. As for honeypot ants, if they regurgitate their crop contents, they can slim down to normal size in a matter of hours. It is NOT a permanent condition. ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/12 "2001-06-24T20:03:49Z")
**Duck Duck Goose** , no offense, but if you ever come out with a diet plan or cookbook, you’ll understand why I won’t be using it! 😃 **Doug Yanega** , thanks, that’s precisely what I wanted to know. **BooBoo316** , all packages I receive from you will be sent back, COD! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2001, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/13 "2001-06-25T12:39:06Z")
'Course, if exposed to radiation from nuclear detonation, then ants, tarantulas, and moths (the ones that come to mind immediately) can grow to the size of 20-story buildings. I seen it with me own eyes on TV, so it must be true. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/14 "2001-06-25T14:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doug Yanega \* > Even tarantulas have problems - females can live a very long time, and molt repeatedly, but males cannot molt; the genitalia are too complex, and _if_ a male tries to molt, the molting process screws up Got a cite for this? Every book I’ve ever read on turantulas say nothing about this. They say that adults may not molt but nothing about males not being able too. As for the OT, though not an insect my scorpion is fat. It turns out that they seperate their exoskeleton to allow room for fat. I stopped feeding her so much and she hasn’t lost any weight yet. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2001, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/15 "2001-06-25T21:55:45Z")
Regarding “fat” insects, I ran into a mosquito over the weekend that was so bloated it couldn’t fly. You know normally how they look like little stick bodies with legs and wings? This one had a noticable ovoid body. It was swollen something like 3 times normal thickness. It was on the ground and couldn’t fly, only hopped a couple inches. Then I squished it, and got blood all over the place. Icky. ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/16 "2001-06-26T00:01:57Z")
Some insects can get extremely fat, well beyond the range for morbidly obese humans, and maintain that condition for some time. They’re not just bloated, they are genuinely fat. The most obvious example that springs to mind is [the bogong moth](http://www.bugbios.com/ced1/aust_abor.html), which puts on huge amounts of fat for its summer hibernation. (Yeah, I know a summer hibernation is wierd, it’s Australia, what’d you expect). I’d have to say that two-thirds of the body weight being lard constitutes a fat insect. This is the primary energy reserve for these insects, there is little protein or carbohydrate reserve. Most of this fat is shed by the beginning of autumn, so I can’t see how this doesn’t constiute a genuinely fat insect at least as much as a hibernating bear constitutes a fat mammal. ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/17 "2001-06-26T01:49:42Z")
\*\*Irishman wrote: Regarding “fat” insects, I ran into a mosquito over the weekend that was so bloated it couldn’t fly. You know normally how they look like little stick bodies with legs and wings? This one had a noticable ovoid body. It was swollen something like 3 times normal thickness. It was on the ground and couldn’t fly, only hopped a couple inches.\*\* Reminds me of that one _Farside_ cartoon. Two mosquitos are sucking blood. One is hugely swollen and has an “aw shit” look on his face. The other is shouting, “pull out, pull out! You hit an artery!” Ah, Gary Larsen, the only person who could make something “female” by giving it a beehive hairdoo and cats-eye glasses! 😃 \*\*C K Dexter Haven wrote: 'Course, if exposed to radiation from nuclear detonation, then ants, tarantulas, and moths (the ones that come to mind immediately) can grow to the size of 20-story buildings. I seen it with me own eyes on TV, so it must be true.\*\* Careful! There are people who don’t know the meaning of sarcasm! ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/18 "2001-06-26T06:04:26Z")
**Freyr** , Very little progress to report. Roaches were gorging happily. Landlord came by with Orkin man for routine spraying of the apartment/research center. Experiment unfortunately suspended due to contamination problems in lab/kitchen. Further bulletins as events warrant. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Yanega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@Doug\_Yanega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Yanega)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/19 "2001-06-27T03:58:01Z")
Gaspode wrote: Some insects can get extremely fat, well beyond the range for morbidly obese humans, and maintain that condition for some time. They’re not just bloated, they are genuinely fat. The most obvious example that springs to mind is [the bogong moth](http://www.bugbios.com/ced1/aust_abor.html), which puts on huge amounts of fat for its summer hibernation. (Yeah, I know a summer hibernation is wierd, it’s Australia, what’d you expect). I’d have to say that two-thirds of the body weight being lard constitutes a fat insect. This is an example I hadn’t heard of - it’s as close as I’ve heard to a fat insect, admittedly, but it is a bit of a special case, putting on weight for hibernation and then burning it off. I suppose I’m thinking more about the connotations of “fat” in the human context, and it still really isn’t the same. I suppose the distinction I’m drawing mentally is “fat” = “fatter than absolutely needed for survival”; the bogong moth’s life depends on becoming fat, the same cannot be said for the human. Similarly, one could view it as a matter of deviation from the norm; ALL bogong moths beef up for hibernation, but obese humans are quite atypical. Just so it’s clearer where I’m coming from. ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-insects/69642/20 "2001-06-27T06:26:54Z")
I see what you’re getting at Doug. It seems however that by using a definition of fat that comes down to ‘fatter than is necessary for survival and not normal for the species in that geographic location’ one could pretty much argue that there is no such thing as a fat bear, a fat python, a fat ostrich, a fat doormouse or a fat duck-billed platypus. Virtually any animal that experiences seasonal variations in food supplies will store as much fat as possible to tide it over in the lean periods, bears and migratory birds and whales being classic examples. If we take primitive peoples such as the San Bushmen or Australian Aborigines as examples then putting on weight during the wet season and burning it off during the dry is very normal for humans, overweight if not actually obese traditional Aboriginals and Bushmen are common during good seasons. As far as I can think all humans outside modern societies bulk up during the good times. The condition where weight gain is minimised is very much a product of agricultural societies and modern ones at that. Life for humans in non-agricultural societies is at least as dependant on putting on weight during the good times as it is for bears or moths. This is one of the main the reason why the human body is so tuned to fatty and sweet foods. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m having a hard time thinking of any animal aside from modern, western/westernised humans where putting on fat during good seasons isn’t essential for survival.