Posted on 05/19/2004 12:22:00 PM PDT by LadyShallott
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — A man who cooked and ate nearly 30 cicadas sought medical treatment after suffering a strong allergic reaction to the sautéed insects. The man showed up at a Bloomington clinic Thursday covered from head-to-toe in hives, and sheepishly told a doctor he'd caught and eaten the cicadas after sautéing them in butter with crushed garlic and basil. "He said they didn't taste too bad, but his wife didn't care for the aroma," said Dr. Al Ripani, the doctor who treated the man at Promptcare East. The man, who has a history of asthma and shellfish allergies, suffered a "significant allergic reaction," after eating the cicadas, Ripani said. He said he gave the man antihistamines, steroids and a shot of adrenaline, then observed him for two hours before sending him home. After living underground for 17 years and feeding on tree roots, the so-called Brood X cicadas (search) are emerging by the billions across the eastern U.S. Ripani said recent newspaper articles extolling the tastiness of cicada cuisine should have warned people that dining on the bugs can be dangerous for some people. "Severe food allergies such as this can be fatal," he said. "I feel that needs to be stressed in these articles." He said the University of Maryland's department of entomology's Cicada-licious cookbook, which includes recipes for Cicada Stir-Fry and Cicada Dumplings, contains a disclaimer urging people to consult a doctor before eating cicadas. "We ask that you please take special caution if you have other food allergies, such as soy, nuts or shellfish, or if you know of any contact allergies that you may have to other insects," it states.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Have you ever tried chocolate covered grasshoppers?..
Ummmmm k
Gee, didn't I read this same story back in 1987?
Click here, though, for more on cicada snacking.
Well...he COOKED them. Silly pooch.
They're not as green when you cook them..and that should be a warning!
hungry?
Perhaps they could be served in the Senate dining room.
Another candidate for the 2004 Darwinian awards.
Cicadas 1, Dude 0
Ya gotta gut'em first.
Thanks for the link. I did a search and came up with nothing.
I am dealing with an unfamiliar menace this year here in southeastern NC. I have these tiny little black insects that look like a cross between an ant and a black widow. The body is shaped like an ant and they have a red belly/tail tip resembling a black widow. They are everywhere. They are vicious looking.
I also found my first brown recluse in my laundry room this past Monday. I took it to the Weymoth Center here in Southern Pines just to make sure I identified it correctly. I don't want my spider loving son to pick one up thinking it is harmless. If I find anymore "new" bugs I am afraid that I won't be able to sleep at night.
They're harmless, except to small trees. They're fairly large, cigar-shaped bugs with prominent, swept-back, clear-colored wings. They often have a bright greenish color. They make lots of noise at night. I've not seen or heard any in northeast SC yet.
I am dealing with an unfamiliar menace this year here in southeastern NC. I have these tiny little black insects that look like a cross between an ant and a black widow. The body is shaped like an ant and they have a red belly/tail tip resembling a black widow. They are everywhere. They are vicious looking.
Never heard of it.
I also found my first brown recluse in my laundry room this past Monday. I took it to the Weymoth Center here in Southern Pines just to make sure I identified it correctly. I don't want my spider loving son to pick one up thinking it is harmless.
Teach your son to squash spiders. To love spiders is unnatural.
The other thing you mention sounds like a "cow killer" or velvet ant, which is actually a wasp.
Does it look like this?
Where's the Darwin Alert?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.