Witchetty Grub

Hooked Stick Grub

• Witchetty grubs are also known as witchety grubs or witjuti grubs.
• The term witchetty grub is used for large white larvae of moths that chew through wood and eat roots or sap of certain trees and plants.
• The most common type of witchetty grub is the larvae of the Cossid Moth.
• Witchetty grubs are part of the traditional diet of indigenous Australians.
• Witchetty grubs are eaten either raw or cooked and are very high in protein and have a nutty flavour.  They have been said to taste like scrambled eggs, and when cooked they taste like chicken.

Witchetty Grub
Image courtesy of Nathan Johnson/Flickr

• The word ‘witchetty grub’ comes from the indigenous Australian language, Adnyamathanha, from the words ‘wityu‘ meaning hooked stick and ‘vartus‘ meaning grub.
• The witchetty bush (acacia kempeanas) is the main food of certain witchetty grubs.
• The witchetty grub can grow up to 12 cm (4.7 inches) in size.
• Witchetty grubs live in burrows that they create, up to 60 cm (23 inches) underground.
• Witchetty grub moths have a wingspan of up to 16cm (6 inches) and don’t eat, but instead use stored energy from the grub form.

Bibliography:
Witchetty Grub n.d, Bush Tucker, <http://library.untamedgroup.com/entry/bush-tucker/103/>