Martha F Alaroker, Ronald Twongyirwe, Philip Nyeko, Francis Sengendo, Valtonen Anu, Bruno Massa, Harriet Angwech, Geoffrey M Malinga, Sabine Van Miert
{"title":"乌干达北部不同族群对食用昆虫的当地知识、认知和做法。","authors":"Martha F Alaroker, Ronald Twongyirwe, Philip Nyeko, Francis Sengendo, Valtonen Anu, Bruno Massa, Harriet Angwech, Geoffrey M Malinga, Sabine Van Miert","doi":"10.1186/s13002-025-00799-9","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Insects are widely recognized as a valuable source of protein and solution to food security, particularly in developing countries like Uganda. This study documents the local knowledge and practices of edible insects consumed and perception and attitudes towards edible insects by different ethnic groups in northern Uganda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to January 2024 in the districts of Adjumani, Nwoya, Oyam and Zombo in northern Uganda, where 600 questionnaires which comprised of both closed and open-ended questions were administered to randomly selected respondents (60% female, 40% male) in 24 villages spread across four ethnic groups (Acholi, Langi, Alur and Madi). We aimed to find out, whether differences exist in the types of edible insects consumed and which ones were preferred based on ethnicity, age, gender and education level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study revealed that eleven edible insect's species belonging to two orders (Orthoptera and Isoptera) and four families-Tettigoniidae, Termitidae, Gryllotalpidae and Acrididae were consumed as food among the Acholi, Alur, Madi and Langi. These species include: Ruspolia differens, Locusta migratoria, Kraussaria angulifera, Macrotermes subhyalinus, Macrotermes bellicosus, Macrotermes michaelseni, Pseudacanthotermes militaris, Syntermes spp. soldiers, Lanista varelai and Gryllotalpa africana. L. varelai, locally known as 'Ocene-labolo' in Acholi, is reported as edible insect for the first time. Additionally, one unidentified edible insect, locally known as 'Mumu' in Alur or 'Lakwinyekimo' in Acholi, was reported to be used as food. Preference for edible insects varied among the ethnic groups, with R. differens being the most preferred among Alur (85%) and Acholi (41%). Conversely, M. subhyalinus (33%) and M. bellicosus (64%) were the most popular among the Langi and Madi, respectively. The respondents had positive perception on edible insect's consumption as an alternative protein source (98%) to conventional protein source, particularly for insects that were already known to be eaten in the study areas.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The high diversity of utilized edible insects identified in our study area and the responses indicate that entomophagy is a common practice in the region. Therefore, along with being an important delicacy and traditional foods, edible insects can improve household nutrition status by providing an alternative protein source to alleviate food insecurity and malnutrition among rural communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"21 1","pages":"45"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12235808/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Local knowledge, perception and practices regarding edible insects among different ethnic groups in Northern Uganda.\",\"authors\":\"Martha F Alaroker, Ronald Twongyirwe, Philip Nyeko, Francis Sengendo, Valtonen Anu, Bruno Massa, Harriet Angwech, Geoffrey M Malinga, Sabine Van Miert\",\"doi\":\"10.1186/s13002-025-00799-9\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Insects are widely recognized as a valuable source of protein and solution to food security, particularly in developing countries like Uganda. This study documents the local knowledge and practices of edible insects consumed and perception and attitudes towards edible insects by different ethnic groups in northern Uganda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to January 2024 in the districts of Adjumani, Nwoya, Oyam and Zombo in northern Uganda, where 600 questionnaires which comprised of both closed and open-ended questions were administered to randomly selected respondents (60% female, 40% male) in 24 villages spread across four ethnic groups (Acholi, Langi, Alur and Madi). We aimed to find out, whether differences exist in the types of edible insects consumed and which ones were preferred based on ethnicity, age, gender and education level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study revealed that eleven edible insect's species belonging to two orders (Orthoptera and Isoptera) and four families-Tettigoniidae, Termitidae, Gryllotalpidae and Acrididae were consumed as food among the Acholi, Alur, Madi and Langi. These species include: Ruspolia differens, Locusta migratoria, Kraussaria angulifera, Macrotermes subhyalinus, Macrotermes bellicosus, Macrotermes michaelseni, Pseudacanthotermes militaris, Syntermes spp. soldiers, Lanista varelai and Gryllotalpa africana. L. varelai, locally known as 'Ocene-labolo' in Acholi, is reported as edible insect for the first time. Additionally, one unidentified edible insect, locally known as 'Mumu' in Alur or 'Lakwinyekimo' in Acholi, was reported to be used as food. Preference for edible insects varied among the ethnic groups, with R. differens being the most preferred among Alur (85%) and Acholi (41%). Conversely, M. subhyalinus (33%) and M. bellicosus (64%) were the most popular among the Langi and Madi, respectively. The respondents had positive perception on edible insect's consumption as an alternative protein source (98%) to conventional protein source, particularly for insects that were already known to be eaten in the study areas.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The high diversity of utilized edible insects identified in our study area and the responses indicate that entomophagy is a common practice in the region. Therefore, along with being an important delicacy and traditional foods, edible insects can improve household nutrition status by providing an alternative protein source to alleviate food insecurity and malnutrition among rural communities.</p>\",\"PeriodicalId\":49162,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine\",\"volume\":\"21 1\",\"pages\":\"45\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":3.7000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-07-07\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12235808/pdf/\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"3\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-025-00799-9\",\"RegionNum\":2,\"RegionCategory\":\"医学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q1\",\"JCRName\":\"BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-025-00799-9","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION","Score":null,"Total":0}
Local knowledge, perception and practices regarding edible insects among different ethnic groups in Northern Uganda.
Background: Insects are widely recognized as a valuable source of protein and solution to food security, particularly in developing countries like Uganda. This study documents the local knowledge and practices of edible insects consumed and perception and attitudes towards edible insects by different ethnic groups in northern Uganda.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to January 2024 in the districts of Adjumani, Nwoya, Oyam and Zombo in northern Uganda, where 600 questionnaires which comprised of both closed and open-ended questions were administered to randomly selected respondents (60% female, 40% male) in 24 villages spread across four ethnic groups (Acholi, Langi, Alur and Madi). We aimed to find out, whether differences exist in the types of edible insects consumed and which ones were preferred based on ethnicity, age, gender and education level.
Results: Our study revealed that eleven edible insect's species belonging to two orders (Orthoptera and Isoptera) and four families-Tettigoniidae, Termitidae, Gryllotalpidae and Acrididae were consumed as food among the Acholi, Alur, Madi and Langi. These species include: Ruspolia differens, Locusta migratoria, Kraussaria angulifera, Macrotermes subhyalinus, Macrotermes bellicosus, Macrotermes michaelseni, Pseudacanthotermes militaris, Syntermes spp. soldiers, Lanista varelai and Gryllotalpa africana. L. varelai, locally known as 'Ocene-labolo' in Acholi, is reported as edible insect for the first time. Additionally, one unidentified edible insect, locally known as 'Mumu' in Alur or 'Lakwinyekimo' in Acholi, was reported to be used as food. Preference for edible insects varied among the ethnic groups, with R. differens being the most preferred among Alur (85%) and Acholi (41%). Conversely, M. subhyalinus (33%) and M. bellicosus (64%) were the most popular among the Langi and Madi, respectively. The respondents had positive perception on edible insect's consumption as an alternative protein source (98%) to conventional protein source, particularly for insects that were already known to be eaten in the study areas.
Conclusions: The high diversity of utilized edible insects identified in our study area and the responses indicate that entomophagy is a common practice in the region. Therefore, along with being an important delicacy and traditional foods, edible insects can improve household nutrition status by providing an alternative protein source to alleviate food insecurity and malnutrition among rural communities.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine publishes original research focusing on cultural perceptions of nature and of human and animal health. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine invites research articles, reviews and commentaries concerning the investigations of the inextricable links between human societies and nature, food, and health. Specifically, the journal covers the following topics: ethnobotany, ethnomycology, ethnozoology, ethnoecology (including ethnopedology), ethnogastronomy, ethnomedicine, ethnoveterinary, as well as all related areas in environmental, nutritional, and medical anthropology.
Research focusing on the implications that the inclusion of humanistic, cultural, and social dimensions have in understanding the biological word is also welcome, as well as its potential projections in public health-centred, nutritional, and environmental policies.