Perception of youth on hornet (Vespa Spp.) Larvae as food sources in Malaysia

Every country's future depends on its youth, who are a valuable asset in terms of economic development. The most well-known wasps, which are yellow jacket relatives and belong to the Vespidae family, build eusocial colonies with laying queens and non-breeding workers. Vespa spp. larvae can now be used as a food source and alternative in foods and drinks due to the discovery of nutrients and advantages in the larvae. Historically, many global communities, particularly in Korea, China, Japan, Laos, and Thailand, have used these larvae as their primary food source by incorporating them into their cooking and medicinal processes. The goals of this study are to determine the level of youth perception of hornet (Vespa spp.) larvae as food sources in Malaysia. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), a non-probability purposive sampling method through a contributing questionnaire survey. The study's findings show that youth in Malaysia have a positive perception of Vespa spp. larvae as food sources, and that there is a positive relationship between attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behaviour toward participation, with perceived behavioural control being the most influential factor in youth's perception of Vespa spp. larvae as food sources.