ANIMAL SCIENCES
Heaps of food
Images: Prof Frances Duncan
Termites are a valuable source of nutrition and income in parts of Africa. A survey in the Vhembe district of Limpopo found that a kilogram of termites can feed at least 15 people, and the average income from selling them is almost R300 a day. A 300ml cup of termites feeds three people for R20 – but anyone can harvest them for nothing. The insects are rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins and high in energy. Most of the survey respondents preferred the Macrotermes falciger species. They are eaten fresh from the termite mound, or dried and then cooked – preferably fried and accompanied by maize meal porridge and a tomato and onion sauce. Dried termites are also eaten as a snack. Some pregnant and lactating women also eat soil from termite mounds. The survey found that harvesters protect the mounds from destruction and use nests in a sustainable way. Prof Frances Duncan (BSc 1982, BSc Hons 1983, PhD 1993) of the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences and Shandukani Netshifhefhe (a PhD student and Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development scientist) were co-authors of a paper on this study in the South African Journal of Science. They noted the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge about harvesting and processing the insects. You can taste termites at the annual Yebo Gogga exhibition at Wits, taking place from 9 May to 13 May this year.
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