Beetles, ants, wasps, or flies? An ethnobiological study of edible insects among the Awaj\xfan Amerindians in Amazonas, Peru

Rubén Casas Reátegui,Zbynek Polesny,Pablo Pedro Villegas Panduro,Lukas Pawera

doi:10.1186/s13002-018-0252-5

Abstract

BackgroundInsects are known to be able to provide valuable nutrients to indigenous populations across the Amazon. However, studies on traditional insect use in the Peruvian Amazon are scarce. This study documents edible insect diversity and characterizes their food and collection patterns in eight Awajún communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Additionally, we reviewed what has been known to date about the nutrient composition of the documented species.MethodsThe survey was conducted among the Awajún populations living in the Huampami, Paisa, Achu, and Tseasim communities in the Cenepa district and the Shijap, San Mateo, Kusu, and Listra communities in the Imaza district. Data collection was conducted through a freelisting exercise complemented by a semi-structured inquiry form in the Awajún language. In total, 104 informants (72 men and 32 women) aged between 16 to 73 years were interviewed.ResultsThe Awajún people use at least 12 insect species, with Rhynchophorus palmarum, Atta cephalotes, and Rhinostomus barbirostris being the most important ones. Beetles of the family Curculionidae represent the culturally most salient taxon. In the more accessible and developed Imaza district, the Awajún tend to eat almost exclusively R. palmarum, while in the more isolated and preserved Cenepa district, the community’s preferences are linked with more species. Although men are the main insect collectors, women cited more edible insects on average. The insects are eaten mainly roasted or raw. Further use patterns and differences between the districts are discussed.ConclusionTraditional knowledge related to edible insects and the ecosystems they occur in is widespread among the Awajún populations, and insects still represent an important part of the indigenous food system. This ethnobiological survey discovered five species that are newly recorded as edible insects. Chemical composition of insects deemed edible by the Awajún ought to be analyzed in the future and awareness about their nutritional importance should be raised to harness the potential of this underutilized yet nutrient-rich traditional food.

Highlights

Insects are known to be able to provide valuable nutrients to indigenous populations across the Amazon
The 12 edible insect species identified in our study were 6 beetles (Coleoptera), 2 wasps, 3 ants (Hymenoptera), and 1 fly (Diptera)
Based on our literature review of edible insects worldwide, the present research identified 5 insect species, namely Agelaia pallipes Olivier, Cephalotes atratus Linnaeus, Crematogaster sordidula Nylander, Cyphomyia auriflamma Wiedemann, and Strategus jugurtha Burmeister, as new records for insects used as a food

Summary

Introduction

Insects are known to be able to provide valuable nutrients to indigenous populations across the Amazon. Studies on traditional insect use in the Peruvian Amazon are scarce. This study documents edible insect diversity and characterizes their food and collection patterns in eight Awajún communities in the Peruvian Amazon. According to recent reports on the state of food insecurity in the world, some 795 million people globally are notoriously undernourished, with the majority living in developing countries. In Latin America and the Caribbean, undernourishment affects 34.3 million people (5.5% of the population) [1]. According to the most recent list of edible insects worldwide, 2111 insects are used as a food [6]. Previous studies of indigenous societies of the Amazon Basin showed consumption of the orders Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Orthoptera mainly among the indigenous groups in Brazil [7] and Colombia [8]

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Discussion

Conclusion