There are 6 million species of insects

[BADography]

and only about 300 species of mammals.

6 million species of insects and untold quantities of each. Perge the ones that are harmful(poisonous) and one would wonder why anyone is going hungry? Wouldn't one?

[OaheX]

It seems about 50% of those insects are feeding on us. At least they are not going hungry!

[BADography]

It has been said that the only living things that survived the fallout that killed off the dinosaurs was those things that lived underground. INSECTS!

[Spamaster]

It has been said that the only living things that survived the fallout that killed off the dinosaurs was those things that lived underground. INSECTS!

And it happens all over again this December

[BADography]

And it happens all over again this December

If not then it could be 2029 when the asteroid Apophis is scheduled to hit the earth. Look out. She is a BIG one.

[Spamaster]

Still alive and kicking the pygmy tarsier:

[Greybeard]

Of course if we DID kill 'em all off, we would starve.

[Stormbringer]

and only about 300 species of mammals.

6 million species of insects and untold quantities of each. Perge the ones that are harmful(poisonous) and one would wonder why anyone is going hungry? Wouldn't one?

I don't know where you're getting your data. The IUCN completed an eight year scientific survey in 2005 and counted 5,676 extant species of mammals on Earth. Many more have been discovered since then. That's not a minor error on your count.

Insects are estimated to be between six and ten million species, so at least that data was reasonably accurate.

[budley3]

I don't know where you're getting your data. The IUCN completed an eight year scientific survey in 2005 and counted 5,676 extant species of mammals on Earth. Many more have been discovered since then. That's not a minor error on your count.

Insects are estimated to be between six and ten million species, so at least that data was reasonably accurate.

How did they get them all on the Ark?

[BADography]

I don't know where you're getting your data. The IUCN completed an eight year scientific survey in 2005 and counted 5,676 extant species of mammals on Earth. Many more have been discovered since then. That's not a minor error on your count.

Insects are estimated to be between six and ten million species, so at least that data was reasonably accurate.

I was watching a docu on it last night. I even rewound it to hear the numbers again. I thought 300 was low. I just tried to get it again. Netflix is having a streaming problem. I will check it again later.

[LasPulgas]

How did they get them all on the Ark?

There were only 27 species of everything back then.

They've evolved since then...wait..that can't be right...

[BADography]

I don't know where you're getting your data. The IUCN completed an eight year scientific survey in 2005 and counted 5,676 extant species of mammals on Earth. Many more have been discovered since then. That's not a minor error on your count.

Insects are estimated to be between six and ten million species, so at least that data was reasonably accurate.

OK, I watched that part again and he said "few hundreds mammals." Let's say that he mis-spoke and he meant few thousand. that would be closer to your 5676. He was speaking at a conference in 2010 in Oxford England.

Be that as it may, insects way out number the mammals. Why then, aren't those multi-legged creepy crawly things a more common food source?

I've heard that some cultures eat fried grasshoppers like we eat potato chips.

A lot of animals eat insects.

[Stormbringer]

OK, I watched that part again and he said "few hundreds mammals." Let's say that he mis-spoke and he meant few thousand. that would be closer to your 5676. He was speaking at a conference in 2010 in Oxford England.

"A few hundreds" is British for a few thousand. Their billion is different than ours, etc. I used to remember the conversions. Makes sense now.

Be that as it may, insects way out number the mammals. Why then, aren't those multi-legged creepy crawly things a more common food source?

I've heard that some cultures eat fried grasshoppers like we eat potato chips.

A lot of animals eat insects.

I eat insects now and then while riding with my faceplate up.

I have eaten mealworms, ants, and grasshoppers. Didn't care for the grasshoppers, but the mealworms and ants were fine. The mealworms were baked with a slight sprinkling of cinnamon on them and the ants were fried. I can't say I'd make them a regular staple, but we ought to be able to find a palatable method for greater consumption.

One of the red dyes commonly used in foods is made from cochineal. So, if you want to avoid insect in your diet, don't eat some of the red candies out there.

[BADography]

"A few hundreds" is British for a few thousand. Their billion is different than ours, etc. I used to remember the conversions. Makes sense now.



I eat insects now and then while riding with my faceplate up.

I have eaten mealworms, ants, and grasshoppers. Didn't care for the grasshoppers, but the mealworms and ants were fine. The mealworms were baked with a slight sprinkling of cinnamon on them and the ants were fried. I can't say I'd make them a regular staple, but we ought to be able to find a palatable method for greater consumption.

One of the red dyes commonly used in foods is made from cochineal. So, if you want to avoid insect in your diet, don't eat some of the red candies out there.

So why do you think insects aren't bundeled for a more wide distribution of a food supply. I guess it doesn't matter if it is wheat, rice or insects if the rulers of the lands won't allow it to get to the ones in need?

[Greybeard]

How did they get them all on the Ark?

[Highway 61 Revisited]

How did they get them all on the Ark?

They got them on by twos

[Highway 61 Revisited]

Over 50 billion species of plants and animals have existed since life began on earth some 2.5 b years ago.

Although new ones do evolve, it is estimated that 99.9% of these are now extinct.

Scientists have evidence for at least 5 world wide catastrophic events; one, some 250 million years ago is said to have destroyed 95% of life on the planet.

btw: while some insects and animals may have survived underground, marine lifeforms persisted as well.

[Stormbringer]

So why do you think insects aren't bundeled for a more wide distribution of a food supply. I guess it doesn't matter if it is wheat, rice or insects if the rulers of the lands won't allow it to get to the ones in need?

I think it is probably far more psychological than practical decision making. I look forward to a good steak, but I can't say I'm drooling over a bag of baked mealworms.

[BADography]

I think it is probably far more psychological than practical decision making. I look forward to a good steak, but I can't say I'm drooling over a bag of baked mealworms.

I wasn't talking about you or me. I was talking about feeding the hungry, ie the starving peoples of the world.

If one is hungry enough, one will eat anything. I have heard stories of people so desperate for food that they are reduced to canibalism!

Seems like the abundance of insects would help feed the truly starving.

One way of killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, is to feed the homeless to the hungry.

[Highway 61 Revisited]

I wasn't talking about you or me. I was talking about feeding the hungry, ie the starving peoples of the world.

If one is hungry enough, one will eat anything. I have heard stories of people so desperate for food that they are reduced to canibalism!

Seems like the abundance of insects would help feed the truly starving.

One way of killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, is to feed the homeless to the hungry.

I realize that you're joking but everyone has the right to eat decently. Many cultures do have meals that include bugs, which can be highly nutritious.

Of course lots carry disease and bacteria harmful to man. Hate to think of the original version of "the Fly"
".........help me...........help meeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! "

[BADography]

I realize that you're joking but everyone has the right to eat decently. Many cultures do have meals that include bugs, which can be highly nutritious.

Of course lots carry disease and bacteria harmful to man. Hate to think of the original version of "the Fly"
".........help me...........help meeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! "

Now wait a cotton pickin' minute. Me joke? Surely you jest?

[Stormbringer]

One way of killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, is to feed the homeless to the hungry.

Donner party, table for 15. Make that 14. 13...