David George Gordon, a science writer known as the "bug chef" who championed entomophagy through his 1998 book "The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook," died Aug. 4 in Tacoma, Wash. at 76 from complications of a fall. With his Einstein-like appearance — bushy beard, tousled hair, round spectacles — Mr. Gordon brought tarantulas, crickets, and other insects to late-night TV, including "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," where the host called him a "freak" and "a very strange man." Mr. Gordon countered that Westerners were the odd ones for rejecting a sustainable protein source consumed by billions globally, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. His interest began while writing 1996's "The Compleat Cockroach," where he discovered historical references to cockroaches tasting like shrimp.

He tested recipes from entomology journals and sourced live insects from suppliers, freezing them humanely. The cookbook featured dishes like curried termite stew and larva latkes. Mr. Gordon's daughter, Julia Mullen Gordon, confirmed his death. He leaves a legacy of challenging Western ideas about taste and promoting insects as delicious, eco-friendly food.