"In Oaxaca, grasshoppers, or edible locusts, are considered a true delicacy, harvested from June to December and incorporated into a wide range of traditional recipes. Footage captured on Wednesday shows residents of Santa Catarina Minas collecting the insects in local fields. Known as chapulines, the grasshoppers are washed and cooked before being seasoned with lime, garlic and other spices, and served alongside maize tortillas. For many, the harvest coincides with the rainy season and provides both joy and economic relief. “When the rains start, we feel happy because there will be grasshoppers to eat. Grasshoppers also help our economy, since everything is very expensive now. With just a handful of grasshoppers we gather from the fields, we can feed our family. With grasshoppers and tortillas, we are happy,” said Santa Catarina Minas resident Salvador Martinez. Biologist and educator Genesis Cruz, from Nuu Kuu, the Environmental Education and Interpretation Centre in Oaxaca, explained that while grasshoppers are considered pests in some parts of Mexico, in Oaxaca, they are a common and celebrated source of protein. “We know they are very tasty, especially since they provide a lot of protein; this helps reduce our consumption of meat. We can get enough protein from grasshoppers. They are very tasty and part of our culture, especially in our state, but they should be consumed more moderately,” she said. “Grasshoppers are no longer consumed only by locals, as was done in the past. Tourists and people with more exotic tastes also eat them, and they are exported and even sold online. This overharvesting from the wild is causing their population to start declining in our state, although in other states they are considered a pest,” she added. Beyond their role as food and a source of income, grasshoppers also carry cultural significance. Their presence is recorded in pre-Hispanic codices, where they appear as both sustenance and ceremonial symbols. Today, they remain an integral part of festivals such as the Guelaguetza and the Day of the Dead, representing fertility and abundance."