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VOL. 8, ISSUE 10 (2023)
Ethnobiological use of insects in traditional medicine and cultural practices from the administrative region (Rishikesh) Dehradun-India
Authors
Shafkat Jabbar, Musheerul Hassan, Mohd Majid Jamali, Asma Aftab, Huma Habib
Abstract
Background:
Insects, represented as the rich taxa, are found in most of the habitats in the
world. These have been utilized for a variety of purposes like medicine, food,
etc. Present study was conducted from September to March 2023. Snowball
technique was employed to select the respondents and the data collection was
done by employing semi-structured questionnaires followed by group discussions.
In the ethnobiological domain, the present study identified a total of N=13
species belonging to N=10 genera with Coccinella (31%) as the dominant genus.
Upon documenting the cultural uses of the species, a total of N=6 uses of
categories (black magic, insecticide, sex determination, and evil eye) were
documented. The maximum number (N=8) of species (Adalia decempunctata, Angelis
cardoni, Chilocorus nigritus, Coccinella hieroglyphica, Halyzia sanscrita,
Propylea dissecta) were employed for black magic, followed by N=2 (Coccinella
leonine, Coccinella septempunctata) as an insecticide. Only N=10 species
were enlisted used to treat N=6 diseases (asthma, cough, infertility, sunburn,
skin wrinkles, minor injuries). Asthma was recorded to be treated by the
maximum number (N=3) of species (Coccinella septempunctata, Coccinella
hieroglyphica, Coccinella leonine). Few people were found to practice
ethnomedicine, for which in return they get hard cash or livestock like sheep,
goats, and lamb, hence insects were also a source of livelihood. The use of
documented species was also found to have mythical attributions. It is for the
first time, the present study is exploring the ethnobiological usage of the
insects from the region, hence can be considered as pioneers for the upcoming
studies.
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Pages:1-6
How to cite this article:
Shafkat Jabbar, Musheerul Hassan, Mohd Majid Jamali, Asma Aftab, Huma Habib "Ethnobiological use of insects in traditional medicine and cultural practices from the administrative region (Rishikesh) Dehradun-India". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 8, Issue 10, 2023, Pages 1-6
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