Sago worm
| Rhynchophorus ferrugineus | |
|---|---|
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| Sago worms in Papua New Guinea | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Superfamily: | Curculionoidea |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Genus: | Rhynchophorus |
| Species: | R. ferrugineus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhynchophorus ferrugineus |
|
The Sago worm or Sago grub is the larva of the Sago Palm Weevil or Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus).
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[edit] Overview
The worm lives and feeds on the starchy pulp of the trunk of the sago palm (after which it takes its name), which is common in the wetter freshwater swampy parts of Southeast Asia and Melanesia. The weevil has also been reported from China, Saudi Arabia (where it is an important pest of dates), Egypt, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
Sago worms have a plump, yellowy-cream body with a soft-ridged texture and a hard-shelled head. The body of the worm is covered by fine hair.[citation needed]
[edit] Cultural uses
In New Guinea sago worms are roasted on a spit to celebrate special occasions. They are eaten either alive or cooked in many parts of New Guinea, notably among the Asmat, Korowai and Kombai peoples of southern New Guinea. Sago grubs have been described as tasting like bacon or meat, and are often cooked together with sago flour.
Sago Delight,or Fried Sago Worms is a speciality in Malaysia, although versions of this dish can be found in many Southeast Asian countries and Papua New Guinea. The sago worm also can be found in other starch-bearing palms such as the Pantu palm and Aping palm[citation needed] found in the interior of Borneo. It is regarded as a special high-nutrient delicacy among most Sarawak tribes such as the Melanau and the Dayak.
