I am not a fan of maggots. Let us be clear on that from the outset. Horrible little squirmy things. Writhing and thriving.. .
I do not care who ( or WHO ) tells me that they are full of protein and eating zee bugs will make me happy, I am not eating one.
On the other side of the coin, in Empire of the Sun, the semi-autobiographical novel by J.G. Ballard, later adapted into a film by Steven Spielberg, the story follows Jim, a British boy living in Shanghai during World War II. After the Japanese invasion, Jim becomes separated from his family and faces unimaginable hardships as he struggles to survive.
One particularly harrowing moment highlights Jim's resourcefulness and desperation. In the Suzhou internment camp, where starvation looms over the prisoners, Jim resorts to eating maggots and weevils to stave off hunger. This shows that we can do pretty much anything when our will to survive is strong enough. It's a pretty horrible reminder of the brutal conditions endured by those in the camp. While such scenes may be horrific, they show that the human spirit is strong in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Jim, once a privileged child, learns to navigate a world stripped of its order and comfort, finding ways to endure and sustain himself, even if it means embracing what others might find repulsive. I wonder how many of us would do the same in his situation?
Sometimes, I think that the WHO and the WEF want us to learn first hand....
Yet here in Australia and elsewhere, Flystrike, also known as myiasis or flyblow, is a condition that affects sheep. It occurs when flies, particularly blowflies, lay their eggs on the moist and dirty wool of a sheep. The eggs hatch into maggots, which then feed on the living tissue of the sheep, causing serious health issues. Flystrike is a significant concern in the agricultural industry, particularly in regions where blowflies are prevalent.
The life cycle of flystrike typically begins when female blowflies are attracted to damp or dirty wool on a sheep. They lay their eggs, and within hours, the eggs hatch into larvae (maggots). These maggots then start feeding on the sheep's flesh, causing irritation, infection, and potentially fatal consequences if not addressed promptly.
Blowflies and their larvae (maggots) are attracted to living flesh primarily because they require a moist and warm environment for their eggs to hatch and for the maggots to thrive.
One of the most unexpected uses of maggots is in the field of medicine, specifically in wound care. The practice of maggot therapy, also known as maggot debridement therapy (MDT), dates back to ancient times but has seen a resurgence in modern medicine. Maggots are employed to clean and heal chronic wounds that are resistant to conventional treatments.
Maggots possess unique properties that make them effective in wound care. They feed on necrotic (dead) tissue while leaving healthy tissue untouched. This selective feeding process, known as debridement, promotes faster healing by eliminating infection and stimulating the growth of new tissue. Maggot therapy has been particularly successful in treating conditions like diabetic ulcers, pressure sores, and other non-healing wounds.
In addition to their medical applications, maggots play a crucial role in ecological processes, contributing to the decomposition of organic matter. Maggots are nature's waste managers, breaking down dead animals and organic waste, thereby recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
As I have said, maggots are nature's little multitaskers, excelling as both lifesaving healers and sheep's worst nightmare. In the medical world, these wriggly wonders are the unsung heroes of wound care, nibbling away dead tissue with a surgeon’s precision and leaving behind nothing but clean, healing flesh....a service most humans wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot scalpel. But for sheep, maggots are a menace, leading to the dreaded "flystrike," where they set up a not-so-friendly all-you-can-eat buffet on the poor animal's skin. And as for food?
And no, eating maggots and bugs does not stop the weather. Funny that. Our old friend Nature cannot be bought. No matter how many promises politicians make or how deep their pockets go, Mother Nature remains gloriously unbribable - she plays by her own rules and answers to no one.
Sure, in times of dire need, a handful of protein-packed maggots might seem like a survivalist’s dream, but let’s be clear: they should remain the snack of last resort, not a trendy hors d’oeuvre. After all, no one’s clamouring for maggot mac 'n' cheese or maggot burgers at the local takeaway. They’re a marvel in the right context, but let’s leave their culinary potential to the post-apocalypse.
I think I will take a pass on that Mr Scwhab.
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