University students gorge on 25 kilograms of 'surprisingly tasty' insects

Some 300 students in Wuhan, Hubei province feasted on 25 kilograms of insects prepared Sunday by university students who wanted their peers to know how tasty the healthy source of protein can be.

The outdoor banquet of pupas, maggots and locusts held at Huazhong Agricultural University's College of Plant Science and Technology saw roughly 300 students polish off the insects in just an hour and a half.

"We held the insect feast to let everyone know how insects can contribute to humans in a way that most people don't normally think of," said organizer Xiang Han.

Stomaching the fried maggot dish appeared to be the most challenging for students. But Zhou Xingmiao, a professor of entomology at the university, who encourages an appetite for insects, told them not to be disgusted, saying that farm-raised maggots "taste even better than shrimps."

Student Ke Jingjing was surprised by what she ate.

"At first, I was totally grossed out just thinking about eating the bugs, but after putting them in my mouth, I realized how tasty they were," she said.