Fried Fragrant Insects

Last updated 2026-11-09 — The Miao people live among the mountains, ridges, streams, and ponds, where various types of insects naturally inhabit. They select a small portion of these as food, such as the larvae of large hornets, flower-legged hornets, seven-mile hornets, and millet hornets. Whenever they discover colonies of these wasps, they track and locate the nests through various methods. Based on experience, they determine when the larvae are plump, then dig out the nests and collect the insects. These can be stir-fried fresh, cooked in a soup, or dried and roasted—each method yields an exceptionally delicious flavor. Other options include the larvae of longhorn beetles and dragonflies. The larvae of longhorn beetles are wood-borers, including those that infest pine, oak, chestnut, and kudzu vines. Their preparation is similar to that of the aforementioned insects.