Picture of a man silhouetted in the green light of a line of tall metal nsenene traps as thousands of crickets swirl above.

Inside the booming business of cricket catching

Trappers of the hopping insects bring a key source of protein to Ugandan markets. But overharvesting and climate change could threaten this food of the future.

A young man listens to the whir of insects’ wings and the clang of their bodies colliding with the corrugated metal sheets that form the walls of a giant trap. Lured by ultrabright lights and sedated by smoke, swarming bush crickets slide into the drums. They are a much loved snack, but growing demand and habitat loss are driving down their numbers.
This content is Subscriber-Exclusive
You must have a National Geographic subscription to explore this article.

Read This Next

Is banning fishing bad for fishermen? Not in this marine reserve
SeaWorld allegedly violated the Animal Welfare Act. Why is it still open?
'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet