On our last ReWild Your Child program we found more huge witchetty grubs than ever! These guys are the larvae of the Cossid moth family. We get lots where we are, and they're mostly found burrowing through the wood of young wattle saplings (Acacia spp.), especially the Green Wattle (A. irrorata) and the Two-Veined Hickory Wattle (A. binervata).
Invertebrates can carry parasites that aren't great for humans, so we roast the witchetty grubs in the hot ashes of a campfire (like this one has been). Once cooked, they taste like eggs. If you roast them till they go brown and crispy, they taste a bit like bacon. Yum! Everyone who tastes witchetty grubs is amazed by how good they taste.
They are a real treat in the bush and were an important staple of the Australian Aboriginals who lived in this area. Witchettys were often the first solid foods that babies were given when they were weaned - they are full of protein and fats and other important nutrients. We love witchettys!
They are a real treat in the bush and were an important staple of the Australian Aboriginals who lived in this area. Witchettys were often the first solid foods that babies were given when they were weaned - they are full of protein and fats and other important nutrients. We love witchettys!
Here's Ewan bravely posing for a pic before tucking in.
You can see how big it is!
You can see how big it is!
There we have it. Photographic evidence of Ewan's bravery.
Good on you, mate!
And after that, Seb's mum Kristin was inspired to try some of this bush delicacy.
It's hard to tell if she liked it or not. It definitely looks like she chewed :c)
Good on you Kristin!
Good on you, mate!
And after that, Seb's mum Kristin was inspired to try some of this bush delicacy.
It's hard to tell if she liked it or not. It definitely looks like she chewed :c)
Good on you Kristin!
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