Perception and use of edible insects in Santa María de Itapinima and Piracemo indigenous communities, Mitú, Vaupés, Colombia

Abstract

The indigenous communities of the Colombian Amazon East maintain their traditional knowledge for the use of their resources. Insects have been used as an alternative food that has been included as part of their daily diet. Fourteen species of edible insects belonging to 15 families of five orders were recorded in the communities of Santa María de Itapinima and Piracemo, located on the he Cuduyarí River in the department of Vaupés. According to its use value, mojojoy Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), manivara Syntermes spinosus (Latreille) (Blattodea: Termitidae), leaf-cutting ant Atta laevigata (F. Smith) (Hymanoptera: Formicidae) and several species of moth caterpillars (Lepidoptera) commonly called as tapurú, are the most important species of edible insects. For each species, its ecological calendar was established, and its collecting techniques and methods, and traditional forms of preparation and consumption were documented. Through community pedagogical workshops, strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of edible insects were proposed, identifying research priorities in order to improve the food security of communities.