‘Naosek,’ an edible giant water bug scientifically known as Lethocerus indicus, that played an important part in Manipur’s culinary heritage as a condiment, is now on the verge of extinction, and its sight has become very rare in its natural habitats—especially in water bodies, paddy fields, and Loktak Lake.
‘Naosek’ (Lethocerus indicus) occupied a phenomenal position in Manipur’s gallery of culinary art for its aromatic value, once used as an inseparable condiment in ‘Laphu Eromba,’ a typical Manipuri banana-stem dish made after boiling or steaming, then mashed with chili and fermented fish and garnished with different herbs. This water bug is native to Southeast Asia and is considered a delicacy in several Southeast Asian cuisines.
In Thailand, it’s known as ‘Maeng Da,’ and in Vietnam, it’s called ‘Cà Cuống.’ It is also widely consumed by people in the northeastern states of India, including the Karbi, Rengma Naga, and Bodo communities in Assam.
Experts in Manipur cited the declining population of this species as due to excessive use of insecticides and chemical fertilizers that threaten its survival. To create an enabling environment for all endangered species, it’s high time to switch from chemical fertilizers to biofertilizers and promote natural and organic farming practices.
