# Should I eat these grasshoppers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496 "2008-09-20T23:41:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/1 "2008-09-20T23:41:15Z")
It’s food, so CS. I’m making hot wings. Since I’ve got the hot oil going, I’m making french fries and tortilla chips too. Well, since I’ve got the oil going… I just caught two grasshoppers. Biguns. Tossed 'em in. (hey, they ate my corn). Should I eat 'em? I’m scared. I’ve never eaten bug (knowingly) before. I always wanted to. I missed the cicada thing they had going back east a few years back. Should I? Uh? Dare me? I might have to have a couple drinks first. I’m home alone. Shouldn’t leave me home alone with a deep fryer. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/2 "2008-09-20T23:56:16Z")
If you do, cook them thoroughly. Grasshoppers can carry tapeworms. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/3 "2008-09-21T00:06:58Z")
Deep fried the hell out them. They were crisp. Yup! Were. Woo! I just ate 'em. Check another thing off my list of things to do in life. What are the symptoms of tape worm? Just so I know. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/4 "2008-09-21T00:26:12Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Deep fried the hell out them. They were crisp. > > Yup! Were. Woo! I just ate 'em. Check another thing off my list of things to do in life. > > What are the symptoms of tape worm? Just so I know. Unexplained weight loss, for one. So if you’re like half of the people in North America, it will be a good thing at first. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/5 "2008-09-21T00:29:43Z")
I googled “symptoms of tapeworm” and got this: > **[Tapeworm infection - Symptoms and causes](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tapeworm/symptoms-causes/syc-20378174)** > > Tapeworms in the intestines usually cause mild disease. Immature tapeworms, called larval cysts, can cause serious disease in other parts of the body. > [@Mayo clinic](#): > > Symptoms > Often no signs or symptoms > Most people who are infected with tapeworm don’t show symptoms. > > Signs and symptoms of intestinal infection > Most likely, you won’t have any signs or symptoms with an intestinal infection. It’s possible you might notice segments of the adult tapeworm (proglottids) in your stool. Other possible signs and symptoms include: > > Nausea > Weakness > Loss of appetite > Abdominal pain > Diarrhea > Weight loss and inadequate absorption of nutrients from food > Signs and symptoms of invasive infection > If tapeworm larvae have moved out of your intestines and formed cysts in other tissues, it can cause organ and tissue damage, resulting in: > > Fever > Cystic masses or lumps > Allergic reactions to the larvae > Bacterial infections > Neurological symptoms or seizures if the brain is involved ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/6 "2008-09-21T02:13:16Z")
I hope they weren’t Lubbers. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/7 "2008-09-21T02:17:41Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I hope they weren’t Lubbers. Nope. I’m in Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/8 "2008-09-21T02:58:50Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Check another thing off my list of things to do in life. A real-life Far Side cartoon. The one where a guy is compiling a list of _Things I Have Eaten_ and eying a moth flying around the lamp. The caption is “Coincidentally, Steve had just reached the letter ‘M.’” ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/9 "2008-09-21T04:33:00Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Deep fried the hell out them. They were crisp. > > Yup! Were. Woo! I just ate 'em. Check another thing off my list of things to do in life. > > What are the symptoms of tape worm? Just so I know. And? How’d they taste? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/10 "2008-09-21T15:48:21Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > And? How’d they taste? Mostly like a deep fried salty crunchy snack. Sorta like a Cheeto, without the cheese. Sorta. Tell you though, they say “pound for pound, more protein than beef.” Well, I’ll stick with the beef. I can’t imagine eating enough of these things to get my daily intake of protein. They’re basically just oddly shaped potato chips, though, as long as you fry 'em crispy. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/11 "2008-09-21T23:36:23Z")
Hmmm. My sister has eaten several grasshoppers (live). Mostly on a dare, sort of thing. I wonder if she knows about the tapeworms. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-these-grasshoppers/464496/12 "2008-09-21T23:42:03Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > What are the symptoms of tape worm? Just so I know. You had better hope they’re not like the tapeworms the patients get on _House_. You’ll be inches from death’s door by morning and bleeding from every orifice, not to mention the flopping about and the boils and the lesions and such.