No doubt it's perception -- "bugs" in Western society, and especially urbanized society, are typically symbols of dirtiness and decay. Cockroaches and maggots, fleas and bedbugs.

And the friendly bugs with good PR, butterflies and bees, symbolic of beauty and freedom, or flowers and busi-ness and honey, are as far from being considered as direct food sources as you can get. Only a big meanie would harm a hair on their heads.

I suppose it's all in the selling: create a trend. Haute cuisine types can convince celebrity types to eat just about anything, as long as it's expensive enough and edgy enough. Others may follow.

But back to perception ... is that lobster or a crab on your plate, bought at exorbitant price and served with great fanfare, really just a great big creepie-crawlie sea bug?