Interações seres humanos/himenópteros (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Vespidae): estudo de caso etnoentomológico em duas comunidades afro-brasileiras do município de Campo Formoso, Bahia, Brasil

Abstract

The bees in general are considered the most important pollinators group, while the wasps have a prominent place for your beneficial as pollinators and predators of insect pests, and represent a real danger due to their stings. This study aimed to record the cognitive, affective and behavior aspects which residents of two Afro-Brazilian villages, Casa Nova dos Amaros and Gameleira do Dida, located in Campo Formoso town, north of Bahia state, have about bees and wasps. The fieldwork was conducted from October 2009 to July 2010. Data were collected through open and semi-structured interviews, following precepts emicist-ethicist balanced approach, the most of the interviews were digitally recorded. The informants had knowledge and practices related to: ethnotaxonomy, structure of society of social Hymenoptera, bioindication, interaction with plants, popular practices in the treatment of stings, human entomotherapy ethnoveterinary, enthomophagy and reproduction/life cycle. Were evidenced trophic, medicinal and economical interactions. Although Afro-Brazilian communities origin, common names of bees and wasps refer to the indigenous Tupi-Guarani. Two ethnosemantic categories are recognized, “inchu” and “abelha”, based on several morphological, behavioral, nest structure, besides the production of honey. However, individual organisms belonging to the generic “inchu” are labeled “abelha”. The ethnobiological studies result important for the development of culturally-grounded management plans that take both the conservation of cultural and biological diversity.