Beyond South Africa's delicacy
Researchers are studying the cultural and economic importance of Mopane worms in South Africa, which serve as a vital food source and income stream. The study highlights concerns regarding the declining availability of these insects and the potential impact on rural livelihoods.
Why it matters
The decline of this traditional resource threatens food security and economic stability for rural communities in Southern Africa.
By Avela Makoyi, Dr Wiseman Ndlovu and Dr Agnus Mathaulula
It may sound strange elsewhere on the continent, but South Africans have their own edible caterpillars known as Mopane worms.
These are the caterpillars of the emperor moth or as described by their scientific name, Gonimbrasia belina .
They may look scary for others, but the Mopane worms are widely sold and consumed in Southern Africa as a high-protein delicacy.
But now they are becoming scarce and the question which lingers is …
“When the mopane worms disappear, what happens to people, culture, livelihoods, and the environment?”
Before experiencing a place firsthand, it is difficult to fully understand the realities on the ground.
Many people know mopane worms (Imbrasia belina) primarily as a traditional food and rural delicacy.
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