The increasingly frequent mention of the food importance of insects by authors addressing other aspects of entomology is indicative of widening awareness. Weissling & Giblin-Davis (131), for example, whose work in Florida on
developing artificial diets for Rhynchophorus cruentatus was motivated by its
vector potential, stated in passing (p. 9), "The culture of R. crttentatas on artificial diets could be a potential advancement in developing a niche for consumption of our indigenous species by palm weevil gourmets or feeding burrowing
owls in captivity." And Howarth (53) noted: "Classical biological control
may be an inappropriate technology in some Third World countries" becausc
insects may provide 70Vo or more of the protein source. 'Alien entomophages
or entomopathogens could significantly reduce local food resources.