These Juicy and Edible Bugs Could Save Your Life in Texas

Look, eating bugs probably sounds as appetizing as eating a wet newspaper dipped in mouse droppings, but when it means the difference between living and starving to death, sometimes you need to make some bold decisions.

Well, luckily for us, Texas is home to many different species of ooey-gooey and crunchy bugs that probably won't kill you when you eat them. No questions? Then, let's begin.

Edible Insects in Texas

Thanks to the outdoors website Backpacker.com, we have a list of insects and creepy-crawlies that you can eat in times of emergencies. I will be ranking the edible bugs in the order of how likely I would attempt to eat one. So naturally, ants take the first spot.

Ants

Take 10 steps in any direction in Texas and you've just stepped on 10 different ant hills, so locating these delicacies is a piece of cake. If you don't want to stick your soft hand into an anthill to collect ants, you can use a stick.

Be sure to dip the stick in a cup of water after each attempt to collect the ants. The water restricts them from trying to escape.

Boiling your ants before eating is recommended. This way the acids in their bodies won't hurt you and they can't bite you.

Woodlice

Next, I used to call them pill bugs growing up, but woodlice takes the second spot. You know what they are, the ones that look straight out of Jurassic Park.

Woodlice are also incredibly easy to collect, but you really need to boil these guys since they can often carry parasites called nematodes. Not a lot of protein, but a handful or two can give you the energy needed to continue your journey.

Worms and Grubs

Finally, worms and grubs are tied for my worst bugs to ever have to eat. Yes, I know that worms aren't technically bugs, but still, imagining those slimy, wriggly, pink noodles sliding down your gullet just makes me wretch.

If you do choose to chow down on some worms, make sure you squeeze out their poop first. I really feel like I don't need to explain further as to why.

You can eat worms raw, but for your sake and for the sake of avoiding potential parasites, I'd cook them first.

You can check out the complete list of edible bugs in Texas, including stinkbugs, scorpions, and termites, on the Backpacker website.