Asian giant water bug

In several Southeast Asian cuisines it is a well-known edible insect. Its flight muscles are often said to taste like sweet scallops or shrimp.1

In Vietnam, a single drop of the extract on a toothpick is enough to flavour a whole bowl of bún thang soup.1

In Vietnam, its scent essence is a pheromone produced by males that attracts females. It is collected from liquid-producing sacs and sold in small glass containers.1

Much of the essence sold as cà cuống in Vietnam is imitation, because the real product is scarce and expensive.1

Its large size, flight muscles and easy dissection make it a model for studying muscle structure, especially cardiac muscle.1

In Northeast India, it is often fried or made into a chutney. It is valued for its high protein content.1