Li Shuqi, 61, of Yanqing in a suburb of Beijing, has so far raised an estimated two millions locusts in five locust houses over the last three years. He sells the pests to restaurants in Beijing where they are regarded as a delicacy. But Li admits his entrepreneurial spirit has not been welcomed by everybody.

"My neighbours are constantly keeping an eye on my locust fields and checking the security of the meshes that prevent them from escaping," he said. But he says that now they have seen how successful his enterprise has become, many of them are now considering following him into locust farming.

"I have already got back all of my 200,000 yuan (£17,750) investment and will build another five locust houses this year," he said.Li said locusts were easy to raise. He puts locust eggs inside the houses, throws in grass for food then harvests the adult locusts after 75 days.

Catching them is the hard part, he added. It can take a family of four eight hours to collect 220kg of adult locusts.

A large butterfly net perhaps?

Well I say I farm them...

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