Ehrlich Pest Control hosts a pop-up Pestaurant, a free one day only event that will allow the public to bite back at bugs with an insect only menu that includes a range of edible insects as well as tasty Grasshopper Burgers, Chocolate Chirp Cookies, Mealworm Fried Rice and Boston “Clorm Chowda.”

In addition to sampling the edible insects, visitors can have their picture taken with the company’s large fly, take Pest Selfies, and use social media to tell friends and followers they participated in the “Pestaurant Challenge”, the event’s extremely popular cricket-eating contest for a prize. For each person who tries a tasty insect or participates in the challenge, Ehrlich will make a donation to The Greater Boston Food Bank allowing Beantown to also “bite back at hunger”.

Professionally trained Ehrlich experts will also be on hand to discuss the edible pests being served, answer any pest questions and pass on ‘top tips’ for avoiding pest problems common to the Boston area.

Aside from helping to raise pest awareness and providing an opportunity to give back to the community, Ehrlich’s Pestaurant aims to motivate participants to be more adventurous with their food as well as promoting the tremendous health benefits of an insect rich diet already enjoyed by billions across the world. Entomophagy (eating insects) is encouraged and promoted by the UN as a viable source of food. Introducing insects into your diet provides you with high levels of protein, zinc and calcium. For example, a cricket can contain up to 25 grams of protein per 100 grams. Insects are also extremely low in fat and rich in vitamins.