Insects
Mopane Worms
Omagungu
Namibia
Fried mopane worms — caterpillars of Gonimbrasia belina collected from mopane trees, fried with chilies, tomatoes, and onions until crispy; a traditional Namibian delicacy and protein source.

Original eatfuls sticker artwork
What it is
A closer look at Mopane Worms.
Fried mopane worms — caterpillars of Gonimbrasia belina collected from mopane trees, fried with chilies, tomatoes, and onions until crispy; a traditional Namibian delicacy and protein source.
What to look for
Know it when you find it.
The worms should be crispy from frying, the chili and tomato giving flavour; eaten as a snack or with pap; a delicacy that surprises — crunchy, nutty, and deeply savoury; found at Xwama Traditional Restaurant in Windhoek.
Where it belongs
Origins and
traditions.
Food rarely respects a border. These are the places the dataset connects most strongly to Mopane Worms.
Names around the table
One food, more than one name.
Keep exploring
If this caught your eye…

Loreto, Peru
Anticuchos de Suri
Loreto palm grubs grilled on skewers, a rare Amazonian seasonal food.

Angola
Palm Grasshoppers
Gafanhotos de palmeira
Grasshoppers gathered from palm trees, toasted with salt and eaten by the handful or served with game meat.

South Korea
Beondegi
번데기
Beondegi, steamed silkworm pupae sold in paper cups from street carts, is a named Korean street food and a genuine test-of-nerve collectible.

Angola
Catatos
Palm caterpillars fried hard with garlic and served with rice or funge.

Haut-Ogooué (Southeastern / Franceville), Gabon
Gabonese Caterpillars
Chenilles
Edible caterpillars (Parotis baldersalis) collected from Tabernaemontana crassa trees on the Plateaux Bateke; an important source of protein; pan-fried or stewed with vegetables.

Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Chitoumou
Shea tree caterpillars, a seasonal delicacy (July-September); fried, cooked in sauce, dried, or powdered; high in protein; a Bobo ethnic specialty around Bobo-Dioulasso.

Ecuador
Chontacuro
Edible palm worm from the Ecuadorian Amazon, grilled on skewers or eaten raw. A high-protein Amazonian delicacy with a creamy, nutty flavor.

Yunnan, China
Fried bee pupa with rice wine
油炸蜂蛹
Fried bee pupae, eaten with rice wine in Yunnan, is a named regional insect dish.




