Ewwwuuuuuu. I had no idea critters like this existed in anything other than an Indiana Jones movie or National Geographic special. Discovered in a piece of firewood next to our chicken coop, reactions at the farm …
… varied. “Never-Squeamish-Kim” wanted to eat them. “Desperately-in-Need-of-Farmgirl-Bootcamp-Alicia” said she was going to throw-up, “Adventurous-Ace” wanted to save them for a fishing expedition, “Curious-Curtis” put them into a jar with cornmeal to observe them during his lunch break, but I wanted to know the NAME of these gi-normous, prehistoric-looking maggots.
The verdict? Ponderosa Pine Borers. I had no idea we were sharing our firewood with … gourmet food. Known for consuming exotic ethnic dishes, Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain has eaten sheep testicles in Morocco, ant eggs in Puebla, a raw seal eyeball, fermented shark in Iceland, and a whole cobra—beating heat, blood, bile, and meat—in Vietnam. (However, he says the most disgusting thing he’s ever eaten is a Chicken McNugget.)
Put the skillet on Never-Squeamish-Kim! If Anthony can eat an unwashed warthog rectum in Namibia, we can eat pine borers.
Just curious. Has anyone ever eaten a porcupine?
Are your images of the beetle larva available for use in an educational exhibition?
Tell us more!
The Field Museum is developing a new exhibition about Biomechanics. We would like to include images of this ponderous beetle larva, ergates spiculatus, that inspired Jon Cox, inventor and logger, to dramatically increase the efficiency of the chainsaw.
And you’re an employee of the Field Museum?
I’m with the Image Research Team, we specialize in finding imagery for educational exhibitions! http://imageresearchteam.com/
If it’s possible your images of the beetle larva would be available, I can be reached at the provided email address. Thanks MaryJane!