Trillions of cicadas are about to rise up from the ground and swarm the eastern U.S. So here's a gross question: Should we start EATING THEM?
The last batch of cicadas in the Hudson Valley was the summer of 2016. There a various bunches depending on their “wake up” schedule, but every 17 years, the cicada boom offers a huge boost to the food chain from the bottom up. But in general, we don't directly take part in the delicious cicada action.
But maybe we should, because a surprising number of people are up for it.
Someone polled 35,000 Americans, and one in four said they'd give cicada-based food a shot. That includes 9% who are VERY willing to do it.
Another 13% said probably not, but maybe . . . 44% said no way . . . 15% weren't sure . . . and one in 50 Americans have ALREADY eaten cicadas.
Men were 50% more likely than women to say they'd give it a try. And young people were more likely to say yes than older people.
28% also said they'd be up for trying SOME sort of insect-based food. And a third of us think insects as food will become a bigger trend in the next ten years.
(YouGov) Image © 2021 Getty Images