Cicadas

Depending on the species, cicadas are found during the months from May to November. They are usually handpicked or collected with the help of bamboo pole (covered with sticky latex extract) and are trapped on the sticky ends of the bamboo pole [23]. Cicadas (*Tibicen pruinosa*, *Dundubia intemerata*, *Dundubia oopaga*, *Pomponia* sp., and *Pycna repanda*) are equally appreciated by the ethnic groups of Nagaland and are cooked or fried for consumption.

#### 3.2.5. Order Coleoptera

### Wood and Timber Larvae

Most of the larval Coleoptera are available for consumption during the period from June to November. All wood or timber larvae are equally appreciated for their food value and are prepared by cooking (with local spices and fermented/dried bamboo shoot) and served as a main dish. While *Batocera rubus*, *Batocera parryi*, and *Batocera rufomaculata* are consumed only in their larval (Figure 7a,b) and pupal stage, *Anoplophora* sp. and *Orthosoma brunneum* are preferred at all stages (larva, pupa, and adult). Adult *Anoplophora* sp. and *Orthosoma brunneum* are roasted, while their larvae and pupae are cooked for consumption. Corm-borer (*Aplosonyx chalybaeus*) larvae and palm weevil (*Rhynchophorus ferrugineus*) larvae are cooked for consumption.

**Figure 7.** (**Plate 5**). Commonly available and consumed Coleopterans; (**a**,**b**) freshly harvested wood larvae sold at local market, Kohima, Nagaland, (**c**) fried water beetles (*Hydrophilus caschmirensis*).

#### Aquatic Beetles

Aquatic beetles are available during the months from July to November and are collected during fishing. Predatory diving beetles (e.g., *Cybister limbatus*, *Cybister tripunctatus lateralis*, and *Sandracottus manipurensis*) and the phytophagous water beetle *Hydrophilus caschmirensis* are considered delicacies among all Naga tribes. For consumption, the elytra and membranous wings of the beetles are removed prior to cooking and then prepared by boiling, cooking, or frying (Figure 7c).

#### Scarab Beetles

Adult scarab beetles (*Xylotrupes gideon*, *Lepidiota stigma*, and *Holotricha* sp.) that are found during the months from June to September are consumed by a few tribes and are preferred as roasted/toasted for consumption. Scarab beetles are easily handpicked. For instance, *Lepidiota stigma* is usually found on litchi tree, *Litchi chinensis* Sonn.; the basic mode of collection is to shake the tree branches which makes the beetles fall down into the ground and they are then easily collected.
