China has a long history of eating termites. As early as 3000 years ago, ant paste was listed as imperial food. There are still winged adults eating termites in Xishuangbanna, China. In Africa, when the winged adults of termites are about to fly away, people often cover the termite ridges with plastic sheets or tents, leaving only a small hole for the winged adults to climb out of. In this way, most adults can be harvested. The local residents used rice sieves and bamboo bags to screen off the wings of adults like rice, and ate them while drying, with relish. The remaining large number of adults are fried and stored for later enjoyment or entertainment. In Sudan, fried termites are often sold in large and small markets, and people are scrambling to enjoy this strange and delicious dish. In addition to Africa, some people in Australia and India also list termites as top-grade food.
The nutritional components of termite adults are very high: water 49.3%, fat 22.5%, protein 2 1.2%, inorganic salt 5.9%, glycogen 0. 1% and others 1%. 100g of termites can generate 560 calories, which is more than three times that of the same amount of beef (100g of beef 130 calories). In addition, the fat content of termites is particularly rich, and the substances that can be obtained from termite fat mainly include phospholipids, glycerides and free fatty acids.
Some people regard termites as delicious food, but more people use termites as feed to feed chickens or other poultry. For example, in Rwanda, people peck chickens in the wild, and the chickens often fed with termites are not only rich in coat color, but also have strong disease resistance and long laying period.
Besides termites, termites born at the cost of soil are rare dishes. The termitomycetes from Yunnan, China enjoys a high reputation in history. It is said that in the early Ming Dynasty, Li Guogong discovered a large number of termites in Yunnan. Mengzi is one of the most precious termites produced in Yunnan, which often has several connected flowers with thick stalks and strong flavor. It is said that it was regarded as a "tribute" in feudal times, especially called "Mongolian fir".
Second? Medical function of termites
Through the study of termites, it is also found that there are some disease-resistant substances in termites. For example, steroids in termites mainly include cholesterol and its derivatives, sitosterol and stigmasterol. Some people think that these substances have inhibitory effects on cancer cells. Oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid contained in termite fat can also inhibit tumor growth. It is also found that sex pheromones and interferon in termites also have certain effects on treating cancer, especially breast cancer, uterine cancer and digestive tract cancer.
According to historical records and some research results, someone extracted a drug from termites and tried to treat biliary tract cancer, gastric cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, rectal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, testicular cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer and histiocytoma in tumor patients. From the clinical situation, termite extract has different degrees of curative effect and certain effect on all kinds of tumor patients, and has different degrees of effect on analgesia, stimulating appetite, restoring physical strength, improving the body's stress ability, enhancing the body's immunity, inhibiting lumps and improving patients' self-feeling.
Third? The effect of accelerating material circulation
In the vast tropical and subtropical forest areas, there are countless litters, withered weeds and remaining tree bases and roots that have been cut down every year. If it does not corrode or rot, it will inevitably affect the growth of plants, but it will be eaten by termites and digested by protozoa in termites. Can be quickly transformed into humus, accelerate the material circulation and promote plant growth.
Fourth? Function of changing soil physical and chemical properties
According to the research report of Zhang Zhenhua (1987), the life movement of termites and their fungus gardens can improve soil fertility. According to the determination, the contents of soil organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the nest of black-winged soil termites and yellow-winged soil termites are higher than those outside the nest. Organic matter content is one of the important indicators of soil fertility and an important factor in the formation of soil structure.
Fifth? The role of other aspects
According to Zhang Zhenhua (1987), Macrotermes flavipectus and Microtermites nigripectus live in the soil of copper mining area, which is of edible significance, indicating that the soil and rocks in this area contain copper, which is beneficial to prospecting. According to the determination, the copper content of the above two termites is very high in a copper mine in Baohe Township, Zhuji, Zhejiang Province. The insect body of Macrotermes flavipectus is 19 1ppm, and that of Termitos nigripes is 193ppm. Secondly, the copper content in the fungus garden and mud skeleton of the ant nest is also very high. Termitomyces flavipectus 13 1ppm, Termitomyces nigromaculatus 128ppm, and mud bone 69ppm. Obviously, this is because the background of copper content in water and soil in copper mining area is high, but termites and fungi can tolerate this heavy metal ion and reproduce in this environment. Therefore, when looking for copper deposits in fields or mountains, we can use the biomicroscopic investigation of termites as an indicator. In addition, the arid desert areas in Africa are short of water, and termites need to take water from tens of meters or even 200 meters deep to build nests and cultivate fungus gardens. In order to make the tunnel smooth, termites have to transport the underground sand to the surface and pile it up into an ant mountain. By analyzing the "sandy soil" from deep underground, we can determine whether there are minerals in this area and what minerals they are. Some people have successfully discovered rich gold deposits by using termite exploration method.
The above information is provided by Shenzhen Fengjiang Termite Control Co., Ltd.