Edible insects are high in both monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids, coupled with an abundance of several minerals and vitamins [ 65] that are key in the provision of daily nutrient intake requirements to human beings. In some instances, the mineral and vitamin content of edible insects is higher in iron and zinc, compared to conventional meat [ 4]. Therefore, entomophagy has been proposed to combat the deficiencies of these minerals in developing countries [ 67], since 17% and 25% of the global population are at risk of zinc and iron deficiencies, respectively [ 68]. Sherman, R. A., Hall, M., & Thomas, S. (2000). Medicinal maggots: An ancient remedy for some contemporary afflictions. Annual Review of Entomology, 45(1), 55–81.

Most edible insects are regional and rarely exported partly because the transportation of raw insects might bring quarantine issues. Only very few cases have been reported that immigrants import special local insect products from their hometown (Bukkens 1997). However, the ready-to-eat products can be clean and importable if they are prepared by standardard method. This requires a mature industrial line. The industrialization of edible insects is therefore the foundation of the global consumption of many insects. The insects groups eaten sometimes differ distinctly even in neighboring regions because people usually just follow their traditions, which however, brings the opportunity of developing new edible insects from native creatures (Meyer-Rochow 2005). A trend of eating longan stink bugs ( Tessaratoma papillosa), which is one of the principal pests of litchi, hits southern China recently. The bug is famous for jetting smelly venom when being caught. But they are now an ambrosia to some people after proper frying or simmering. It was only consumed in Thailand, but it has successfully been promoted to warm areas where initially have the stink bugs colonized (Feng et al. 2000; Raksakantong et al. 2010). The stink bugs are thus being caught massively, which has contributed to the IPM of litchi, too.

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