Regional South Australian school students at the small community of Ramco have devoured creepy crawlies in the name of science.
The Ramco Primary School's environment team served up a menu of mealworms, ants, crickets, and chocolate, following their involvement in a competition lead by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
The local landscape board held an online environmental forum encouraging young people to learn about sustainable food sources.
Principal Rob Smyth said it was a great learning experience for the kids who were eager to get into the kitchen.
"When I told them [we had won that prize], some were excited, some were not so excited, but they certainly thought it would be an interesting thing to do," he said.
Ramco students earn bug badge
This isn't the school's first encounter with tiny creatures, it became well known for its fascination with insects after discovering a new species of wasp in May in conjunction with the University of Adelaide.
But Mr Smyth said this second tie to the bug world was just a happy coincidence.
"It’s been a great learning opportunity for our students to diversify in terms of their learnings [with a] science-focus and an environmental focus."
Year seven student Ashten was a part of the group responsible for dishing up the delicacy, which was made a little bit more delicious using chocolate.
He said it was an easy process to make the snack.
"We melted the chocolate until it was a fine liquid and placed all the insects into it and carefully stirred it until they were all one," he said.
Ashten said the bug-filled snack didn't taste "too bad" and students kindly decided to offer their creations to school staff.
"Most of the teachers and everyone else tried one. Some people liked it, some people didn't," he said.
Year five student, Layla said the best part of the experience was watching everyone's reactions.
"They tasted alright and I liked eating them and seeing the expressions on everybody's face was funny."
