RESEARCH ARTICLE Ethnobiology and Conservation 2018, 7:01 (5 December 2017) doi:10.15451/ec2018­01­7.01­1­18 ISSN 2238­4782 ethnobioconservation.com Management of pindo palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana Arecaceae) in rearing of Coleoptera edible larvae by the Guarani of Northeastern Argentina Jorge Justino Araujo1, 2, Héctor Alejandro Keller2, 3, Norma Inés Hilgert1, 2* ABSTRACT Rearing of coleopteran larvae on palm tree stems as a food source is extended among Amerindian groups is as a food source as coleopteran larvae are reared on their stems. Guarani groups settled in the province of Misiones, in northeastern Argentina, consume three species of Dryophthoridae larvae (Metamasius hemipterus, Rhynchophorus palmarum and Rhinostomus barbirostris) which are rear in the stipes of Syagrus romanzoffiana palm. This work deals with the management of the different stages of growth of this palm to promote the development of the three edible larvae species. Field observation suggests a great knowledge of these insects ecology and of the differential characteristics of the palm tree wood anatomical structure throughout its ontogenic development. This constitutes the first record of the use of Metamasius hemipterus as food for the Mbya Guarani people. Keywords: Atlantic Forest; Edible Insects; Metamasius hemipterus; Rhinostomus barbirostris; Rhynchophorus palmarum; Ethnoentomology. 1 Instituto de Biología Subtropical, IBS­CONICET. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Bertoni 85, (3370) Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina 2 Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones 3 Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste, UNNE­CONICET. Sargento Cabral 2131, C.C.:209, (3400) Corrientes, Argentina * Corresponding author. E­mail address: JJA ([email protected]), HAK ([email protected]), NIH ([email protected]) INTRODUCTION Ethnoentomology (Posey 1987). The consumption of edible insects has Insects occupy an important space in the been documented since the Paleolithic socio­economic development of peoples (Hernández­Pacheco 1921). This habit is (Costa Neto 2004). The study of insects as present all over the planet and sometimes food, as well as the knowledge and species of the same genus are used and management associated with this use are raised similarly in all continents (Ramos­ part of the main objectives of Elorduy et al. 2009). Based on the empirical 1 Araujo et al 2018. Management of pindo palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana, Arecaceae) in rearing of Coleoptera edible larvae by the Guarani of Northeastern Argentina Ethnobio Conserv 7:01 knowledge of rural populations there is a Zambrana et al. 2016). Most of these record of about 1,800 edible species used by contributions on the use and management of more than 3,000 ethnic groups (Ramos­ palm trees come from the Amazon Elorduy 1997). Occasionally the rearing of rainforest. edible larvae is promoted in different plant The genus Syagrus currently comprises species (Cebolla Badie 2009; Coimbra 1984; 65 species, 2 subspecies and 14 natural Keller 2010; Mitsuhashi 2017). This practice hybrids; it is distributed in the Neotropic, by indigenous groups has been named being S. romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman "cultivation" (Choo et al. 2009; Dufour 1987) the species with the southernmost or "semi­cultivation" in several papers distribution (Noblick 2017). In fact, the (Cebolla Badie 2009; Defoliart 1995; Van natural distribution of this species includes Itterbeeck and Van Huis, 2012) while others eastern and southern central Brazil, eastern call it “breeding” (Cerda et al. 1999). In some Paraguay, eastern Uruguay and tropical regions this activity has reached northeastern Argentina, where it is present in commercial importance, where larvae are the province of Misiones, Corrientes, Entre sold in popular markets and in luxurious Ríos, Buenos Aires, Chaco, Santa Fe and restaurants (Delgado et al. 2008; Formosa (Cabral and Castro 2007). Hanboonsong et al. 2013; Paniagua­ Common uses of S. romanzoffiana Zambrana et al. 2014). documented for different indigenous groups Arecaceae is one the most frequently of the Atlantic Forest are food, construction, used botanical families for larval rearing. textiles, medicine and religion (Bonomo and This family is of economic, material and Capeletti 2014; Cárdenas 1989; Dawson spiritual importance in the daily life of and Gancedo 1977; Hurrell et al. 2010; millions of people, providing beverages, Keller 2014; Pochettino 2015; Reitz 1974; food, drugs, households, clothing, fuel and Rosso and Scarpa 2012). This palm fibers (Dransfield et al. 2008). It includes 200 provides a great variety of material and is of genera and 2450 species which are symbolic use to Guarani people in the distributed in the tropical and subtropical province of Misiones, at least 78 different areas of both hemispheres (Borchsenius and applications have been documented in an Moraes 2006). There are numerous studies ethnobotanical study (Keller 2008). about their relationship with human In the region of this study, the rearing of populations: i.e. a review of useful palms edible larvae of Coleoptera grown on S. around the world (Balick and Beck 1990); romanzoffiana palm stipes and other tree their ethnobotany in the Neotropics (Balick species was reported first by Ambrosetti 1984); the management of different genera (1894) and then by Martínez Crovetto in South America (Balslev 2011; Bernal et al. (1968), who recorded the development of 2011). In South America, a wide variety of edible larvae of the curculionid beetle applications are mentioned for the Rhynchophorus palmarum L. These authors Arecaceae family including: food, medicine, mention that this beetle grubs are also called veterinary, cultural, environmental, toxic, tambú by the indigenous people. In others fuel, among others (e.g. Baslev 2011; Baslev studies there has been registered pumpkins, et al. 2015; Bernal and Galeano 2013; mud vessels, hollow logs, palm spathe and Bernal et al. 2011; Blacutt­Rivero et al. 2016; hollow reeds as traditional elements used to Gragson 1992; Macia et al. 2011; Paniagua­ transport larvae from the forest to domestic 2 Araujo et al 2018. Management of pindo palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana, Arecaceae) in rearing of Coleoptera edible larvae by the Guarani of Northeastern Argentina Ethnobio Conserv 7:01 environments (Cebolla Badie 2009; Keller Paranaense a semi­deciduous forest (Placci 2008; Mayntzhusen; 2009; Müller 1989). and Di Bitetti 2006) placed in a subtropical According to the most recent climate with maximum temperatures around ethnobiological research (Cebolla Badie 40°C and minimum temperatures reaching 2009, Keller 2008) these traditional practices the point of frost and with almost continue until the present in Guarani homogeneous rains throughout the year settlements located in the Green Corridor (Crespo 1982). and the Yabotí Biosphere Reserve, in Archeological evidence of lytic industry Misiones Province. In these studies, confirms Guarani presence in Argentina as Rhynchophorus palmarum larvae rearing early as 900­2000 years BP (Noelli 2004; has been documented by the above Schmitz 1991). At present this people mentioned authors and Rhinostomus represent one of the most numerous original barbirostris (Fabricius) was registered by communities in the lowlands of South Cebolla Badie (2009). America (Assis and Garlet 2004). The management of palm trees in rural The current inhabitants of Guarani origin communities, associated with the rearing of in the province of Misiones are descendants edible larvae of Coleoptera, has been dealt from original dwellers belonging to Mbya and with in studies conducted from the Ava Chiripa communities (Ambrosetti 1894, ethnobiological perspective in different Müller 1989). At the end of the first decade regions, i.e. in Africa (Dounias 2003; Van of the XXI century their population in the Huis 2003), in Asia (Ellen 2006; province reached 13,006 inhabitants, Hanboonsong et al. 2013; Mercer 1997; distributed in approximately 100 villages Ponzetta and Paoletti 1997; Townsend (INDEC 2015). 1974), in South America (Cerda 2001; Choo In Misiones, some communities are et al. 2009; Dufour 1987; Onore 1997). settled in rural or near urban areas In the same way, unlike extractivist distributed in forest remnants along the main practices, the management of a resource roads crossing the region (Crivos et al. 2005; implies a deeper diachronic knowledge of Keller and Prance 2008). Most Guarani the components involved in the productive settlements maintain much of their traditional process, especially of the ontogenic phases subsistence of swidden agriculture, foraging, of the handled species. In this sense, the hunting and occasionally wage labor objective of this work is to provide (Felipim 2001; Jacobsen 2003). In particular, information related to the use of S. they breed beetles larvae which are romanzoffiana palms for the rearing of larvae developed in downed stipes of palm trees of three species of Dryophthoridae among and other tree species (Keller and Prance the Guarani of Northeastern Argentina. 2008). Special emphasis will be made on We conducted our study in the Mbya management practices at different stages of Guarani communities of Y aka pora, Ita piru, the palm growth. Jejy, and Chafariz (Figure 1), all located in the Guarani Department, Misiones, Study area Argentina. The Y aka pora community (26°55ˈ37" S; 54°14ˈ58" W) is located about Misiones is part of the Atlantic Forest of 6 kilometers from provincial route N° 15, it is Alto Paraná ecoregion,