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Table 1 Insect taxa and their use as food by the Awajún people in descending order of the Salience Index (S)

From: Beetles, ants, wasps, or flies? An ethnobiological study of edible insects among the Awajún Amerindians in Amazonas, Peru

Species Order Family Vernacular name Consumption stage Form of preparation Gathering method Seasonal availability S % of respondents
Rhynchophorus palmarum* Coleoptera Curculionidae (beetles) Bukín [bu.ˈkĩn] Larva Grilling, roasting on stick, frying, boiling Collecting from split palm trunk of Mauritia flexuosa, Attalea phalerata, Astrocaryum chambira, Oenocarpus bataua and Bactris gasipaes Jan–Dec 0.83 99
Atta cephalotes Hymenoptera Formicidae (ants) Week [we.ˈɛk] Adult Toasting, frying Collecting ants from burned nest Sep–Oct 0.50 88
Rhinostomus barbirostris Coleoptera Curculionidae (beetles) Datush [ˈda.tus] Larva Grilling, roasting on stick Collecting from split palm trunk of Mauritia flexuosa, Oenocarpus bataua, Attalea phalerata and Bactris gasipaes Jan–Dec 0.47 81
Agelaia pallipes Hymenoptera Vespidae (wasps) Usuk ete [u. ˈsuk ˈɛ.te] Pupae Roasting, toasting Collecting eggs and nymphs from burned nest Jun–Aug 0.37 63
Crematogaster sordidula Hymenoptera Formicidae (ants) Máya [ˈma.ʝa] Adult Roasting Collecting from split tree trunk of Ochroma pyramidale Jan–Dec 0.35 67
Metamasius hemipterus Coleoptera Curculionidae (beetles) Daish [ˈdai̯s] Larva Consumed directly (raw) Collecting from split palm trunk of Mauritia flexuosa, Attalea phalerata, Astrocaryum chambira and Bactris gasipaes Jan–Dec 0.35 58
Rhynchophorus palmarum* Coleoptera Curculionidae (beetles) Tsampun [ˈt.sãm.pũn] Adult Toasting, grilling Collecting from split palm trunk of Mauritia flexuosa, Attalea phalerata and Astrocaryum chambira and Bactris gasipaes Jun–Sep 0.19 40
Cyphomyia auriflamma Diptera Stratiomyidae (flies) Kawat [ka.ˈwat] Larva Consumed directly (raw) Collecting from split palm trunk of Mauritia flexuosa, Attalea phalerata and Astrocaryum spp. Jan–Dec 0.10 26
Strategus jugurtha Coleoptera Scarabaeidae (beetles) Kuru [ˈku.ɾu] Adult Toasting, Grilling Collecting from cut youth branches of Gynerium sagittatum Jun–Sep 0.05 25
Megaceras crassum Coleoptera Scarabaeidae (beetles) Amuntai [a.mũn̪.ˈtai̯] Adult Toasting, grilling Collecting from cut youth branches of Gynerium sagittatum Jun–Sep 0.03 9
UID** Coleoptera Elateridae (beetles) Chuu [ˈʧu.u] Larva Consumed directly (raw) Collecting from split palm trunk of Mauritia flexuosa Jan–Dec 0.03 6
Cephalotes atratus Hymenoptera Formicidae (ants) Dakerae [da.kɛ.ˈɾa.e] Adult Roasting Collecting from split trunk of various host plants Jan–Dec 0.01 4
Mischocyttarus spp. Hymenoptera Vespidae (wasps) Shanu [ˈsa.nu] Pupae Roasting, toasting Collecting eggs and nymphs from burned nest Jun-Aug 0.01 1
  1. *Both developmental stages (larvae and adults) of Rhynchophorus palmarum were consumed. Therefore, the species is mentioned twice in the table and the data was presented separately for each developmental stage
  2. **UID unidentified species. The species was taxonomically identified down to family level only
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