- Witchetty grub
The witchetty grub (also spelled witchety grub) is a term used in
Australia for the large, white, wood-eatinglarva e of severalmoth s. Particularly it applies to the larva of the cossid moth "Endoxyla leucomochla ", which feeds on the roots of the Witchetty bush (named for the grubs) that is found in central Australia. [cite book|last=Marshall Cavendish Corporation|title=Insects and Spiders of the World|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|date=2003|pages=p.625|isbn=0761473440] The term may also apply to larvae of other cossid moths, ghost moths (Hepialidae ), and longicorn beetles (Cerambycidae ). The term is used mainly when the larvae are being considered as food. The grub is the most important insect food of the desert and was a staple in the diets of Aboriginal women and children. cite book |title=Bushfood:Aboriginal Food and Herbal Medicine |last=Isaacs |first=Jennifer |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2002 |publisher=New Holland Publishers (Australia) |location=Frenchs Forest, New South Wales |isbn=1864368169 |pages=190-192 ]The different larvae are said to taste similar, probably because they have similar wood-eating habits. Edible either raw or lightly cooked in hot ashes, they are sought out as a high-protein food by
Indigenous Australians . The raw witchetty grub tastes like almonds and when cooked the skin becomes crisp like roast chicken while the inside becomes light yellow, like a fried egg. ]The word "witchetty" comes from Adynyamathanha "wityu", "hooked stick" and "vartu", "grub." Traditionally it is rare for men to dig for them. ] Witchetty grubs feature as Dreamings in many Aboriginal paintings. In Patrick White's novel, "Riders in the Chariot", a young Aboriginal boy thinks a flabby rector looks like he was "made out of old wichetty grubs" (pg. 366 in Avon Press 1975 reprint of 1961 novel). Once caught the grubs leak a brown water juice over fingers when held. ]
These larvae may also be called Bardi grubs, also spelled Bardy grubs, especially when they are being considered as bait by freshwater fishermen. The term bardi grub appears to have originally been used for larvae of the
longhorn beetle ("Bardistus cibarius"), but fisherman along theMurray River more often apply the term to the hepialid moth larvae of "Trictena " and "Abantiades ".fact|date=January 2008These grubs live about 60 cm below ground and feed upon the roots of
River Red Gum ("Eucalyptus camaldulensis"). They can also be found underBlack Wattle trees, and are attributed as the reason why wattles die within 10 to 15 years.fact|date=January 2008 The roots of theAcacia kempeana shrub are another source of the grubs.ee also
*
Bushfood
*Entomophagy
*Fauna of Australia References
External links
* [http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/~don/larvae/coss/leuco.html "Endoxyla leucomochla"]
* [http://australian-insects.com/witchetty-grub.php Witchetty Grub] on Australian Insects
* [http://www.fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/recipe.cgi?r=278712 Witchetty grub recipe] from Food Down Under
* [http://www.fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/recipe.cgi?r=278713 Witchetty grub soup] from Food Down Under
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