Love or loathe them, could insects also become a food source in the wider context of the global population?

Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a 4-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts.

"Can this be eaten?” is an oft repeated question that every nature guide is familiar with.

In July, Singapore approved 16 species of insects for human consumption, to the delight of sustainable food firms and disgust of some Singaporeans.

But can bugs one day whet mainstream appetites like sambal stingray, a smokey South-east Asian dish crafted from the creature once considered as a “trash fish”.

In this third episode of Green Trails, our team speaks to members of the Entomological Network of Singapore, a group of insect researchers and hobbyists, about the stories of insects in the city-state and whether these creatures can be foraged.

At Windsor Nature Park, ST journalist Ang Qing meets Dr Sean Yap, a research fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab, Mr Foo Maosheng, a senior scientific officer at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, and entomological educator and consultant James Khoo.

For almost two hours, they go on a trail while discussing everything related to insects - from Singapore's historical link to beetle science, to how pretty privilege shapes research in the insect kingdom.