Biology:Mojojoy
Mojojoy or Chontacuro[1] is the name of larvae of different palm weevils found in the Oriente (Ecuador) and the Amazon region of Colombia, eaten as food and known as a pest for various palm species.[2] In Peru, it is known as suri or cocotero.[3] The flavor has had different descriptions including resembling the taste of hazelnut or butter.[3] It is also considered a sustainable food source.[3]
Characteristics
They are the larvae of Ancognatha scarabaeoides[4] and Rhynchophorus palmarum[5] which are considered pests that can attack crops, destroying them partially or totally, or affecting them from the root.[2] The weevils burrow into the aguaje tree, lay eggs, and after hatching, the grubs feed on the oily bark.[3] It is speculated that the fatty flavor comes from this.[3]
Consumption
It can be eaten alive or prepared by different methods of cooking; most commonly they are roasted or fried, grilled on a skewer, or stuffed with beef, chicken or fish.[2][5][6] To eat raw, the head, pincers, and intestines are removed and the contents are sucked out.[3] It can be prepared in the anticucho style, which is grilling after marination. Chicharrón de suri is a dish where the grubs are seasoned with salt and garlic, then fried with green plantains.[3]
Nutrition
The larvae are a good source of protein, vitamins A and E, and beta-carotene.[3]
References
- ↑ "Chontacuro, el gusano con sabor exquisito que se come en Ecuador" (in en). https://www.eloriente.com/articulo/chontacuro-el-gusano-con-sabor-exquisito-que-se-come-en-ecuador/11792.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Culinaria del Amazonas, la más Exótica" (in es). 2017-06-28. https://www.colombia.co/cultura-colombiana/gastronomia/la-culinaria-del-amazonas-la-mas-exotica-del-pais/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Suri Grubs". https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/suri-grubs-peru.
- ↑ Marino, Paula; Villamizar, Laura; Espinel, Carlos; Cotes, Alba Marina (1990-01-06). "Caracterización de prototipos de bioplaguicidas granulados a base de Metarhizium anisopliae para el control de Ancognatha scarabaeoides (Coleóptera: Nelolonthidae)" (in es). Revista Colombiana de Entomología 30 (1): 43–49. ISSN 0120-0488. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-04882004000100007&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=es. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "APROXIMACIÓN AL RECONOCIMIENTO DEL POTENCIAL ZOOTÉCNICO DE LARVAS DE Rhynchophorus palmarum (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) EN EL MUNICIPIO DE LETICIA - AMAZONAS, COLOMBIA" (in es). https://www.faae.org.co/colombiabiodiversa/resenas/resena_2009_09.htm.
- ↑ Abadía, Ximena; Pazos, Sonia; Castillo, Silvana; Pachón, Helena (September 2010). "Alimentos autóctonos de las comunidades indígenas y afrodescendientes de Colombia". Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutrición 60: 211–219.
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