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WORLD'S BIGGEST GRASSHOPPER CATCHER

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Not long ago while I was traveling in Uganda with my guide and friend Kambugu who is also known as Fred. We were in the small town of Mubende around lunch time
Fred took me into the local food court which had just about everything you can imagine, including Andre's roasted chicken.
We ordered our chic-on-a-stick to go because Fred wanted to go have lunch under a 400 year old tree that was really special and not to be missed.
On our way back to the vehicle, we came across a woman selling -- grasshoppers!
Fred told me it was grasshopper month and said people love to eat them in Uganda.
The grasshoppers in Uganda are actually long horned grasshoppers also known as bush crickets. They only have a life cycle of about one year, but can grow up to 130 Centimeters and are masters of camouflage. They are also an excellent source of protein if you can find them.
Not too much further down the road, we came across huge flocks of white birds. I asked Fred why they were there. Fred told me the birds were waiting for a meal. They were waiting for night when the world's biggest grasshopper catcher swings into action.
What they do is erect large sheets of aluminum and shine bright lights on them. The grasshoppers fly towards the light reflected on the metal, and what happens is pretty clever.
A bi catch of the grasshoppers are Nairobi Flies… which are actually classified by scientists as members of the beetle family. They don’t sting or bite, but when their ant-like body is crushed, potent toxins spill onto your skin causing itching, burning, and swelling. Not something I want to hang out with.
When it comes to eating the grasshoppers,. some people like to eat them as a snack, while others prefer them as a stir fry dish for dinner. The most popular way to eat them in Uganda is to deep fry them with onions and garlic and bit of lard and salt.
Unfortunately, I never ate a single one because… well, that’s a long story… something about Fred not wanting me to get a stomach ache as most westerners do... But that brings me to the question of the day.
Would you eat grasshoppers? Or would you prefer something else? Let me know what your opinion is in the comment section below. And I’ll see you next time!
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