Can anyone tell me the correct scientific name of the 'edible' Thai dung beetle? I understand that it is called KUTCHI (กุดจี่).

I have three names:

Copris nevinsoni

Heliocopris bucephalus (possibly correct, or the giant type)

Paragymnopleurus aethiops

Thanks for your help.

PS If you also have a photo which you could attach, it would help immensely, but no worries if you don't.

I'm sorry, I don't know the scientific name for the กุดจี่ but here are some photos of the beetles (kutchi) that my wife cooks with mushrooms.

Dear Pla shado,

Thank you very much for the photos. If you don't mind, can I use the photo of the beetles on your wife's hand?

If that is OK with you, can you send me a full resolution photo? I can't download these thumbnails as they are.

Thank you for your help.

PS They look delicious!

Sure, use whatever you like. I've sent the pic you asked about by PM.

"PS They look delicious!"

You know, the dung beetles are just sort of there, in the food. Neither tasty nor unpleasant. It is more of a textural rather than flavorful experience. I really don't mind eating them, they are unmercifully cleaned before cooking, but quite honestly they really don't bring much to the dish(s). Mrs. Pla shado puts them in broth and kaeng nor mai as well and as far as I am concerned the soups are quite satisfactory without the bugs. I'm pretty sure it is a cultural thing going back to the days when any source of protein was utilized in Isaan.

Dear Pla shado,

It sounds like a cultural thing.

You would never get me eating something like that. I'm not as courageous as you. I don't think I could even put them on my hand.

Thank you for the photo. I was able to download it and will include it in my dictionary.

Best regards,

Here is a site which gives Thai names for the dung beetle;

http://www.myfirstbrain.com/student_view.aspx?ID=476

Can anyone type the names for me, so I can transliterate them?

I cannot copy and paste anything from this site.

Thank you for your help.

I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for but the Thai script for the four beetles shown at the bottom of the page is:

กุดจี่แดง = Kutchi daeng (red)
กุดจีหวาย = Kutchi Waai (rattan/wicker) "?"

กุดจี่เขา = Kutchi Khao (horn) "I think"

กุดจี่หนุ่ม = Kutchi noom (adolescent)

If you open this website and scroll down to item #13 you should be able to copy and paste much of what you are looking for I think.

http://webdb.dmsc.moph.go.th/ifc_nih/a_nih_1_001c.asp?info_id=572

Dear Pla shado,

Thank you so much for doing that for me.

It will help me a lot.

กุดจี่หวาย Copris nevinsoni (wicker)

กุดจี่เขาขนาน Copris signatus (he signed)

กุดจี่เรือซ้อน Liatongus rhadamistus (stacked boats)

Source: http://www.malaeng.com/blog/?cat=51

กุดจี่แดง a.k.a. ด้วงขี้ควาย Heliocopris bucephalus* (red/buffalo poo)

กุดจี่หมุ่ม Paragymnopleurus aethiops (youth)

Source: http://www.dnp.go.th/FOREMIC/NForemic/Insect_tip/rout/%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B9%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%8C.htm

กุดจี่ยักษ์ Heliocopris bucephalus (usually translated as "giant", but "ogre" would be closer - often seen as statues guarding entrances to temples. Does not indicate large size.)

Source: http://biodiversity.forest.go.th/index.php?option=com_dofinsect&view=all&Itemid=73 Confirmed by http://www.biogang.net/biodiversity_view.php?menu=biodiversity&uid=46569&id=181716

*Misspelled on website. The scientific name is almost certainly wrong.. H. bucephalus is กุดจี่ยักษ์ and กุดจี่ยักษ์ is not a synonym for กุดจี่แดง or ด้วงขี้ควาย (both appear separately on a number of websites. Unfortunately I've been unable to track down a scientific name for this.

Generic term for dung beetles: ด้วงมูลสัตว์

Dear AyG,

Wow! You certainly have spent a long time researching this. Thank you so much.

I have to leave now, to give a class, but I will be back later this afternoon to work this out and will get back to you tonight.

Dear AyG,

I have been looking at all the information you gave me and also the links you gave me.

None of the beetles in the photos look similar to the ones Pla shado's wife used, so, as I don't want to dwell too much on beetles, I think I might just indicate the Copris, Helicopris and Paragymnopleurus species and add KUTCHI (type of dung beetle) and DUANG MUNSAT (generic for dung beetles). I will use Pla shado's photo.

Thank you so much for the work you have done on this. I will keep the list you made, for future reference.

any source of protein was utilized in Isaan.

Dear Pla shado, can you tell me, is now a good season to find them on sale? I live in Pattaya, but I want to come to Isaan to photograph and try to eat.

Dear Pla shado, can you tell me, is now a good season to find them on sale? I live in Pattaya, but I want to come to Isaan to photograph and try to eat.

Actually, I've never seen them for sale in any of the local markets but that doesn't mean that they cannot be found there. The ones my wife uses are collected in the fields by family members. The photos above were taken in May so I would think that dung beetles are harvested during the drier part of the year, perhaps January through May. My wife tells me that they don't collect them during the wet season, which will extend into October/November.