Knowledge, use and management of insects, with emphasis on edible insects in the hñahñu community of Xamage, Alfajayucan, Hidalgo, Mexico
Article
Garcı́a-Flores, A, Cabrera-González, JB, Pino-Moreno, JM. (2026). Knowledge, use and management of insects, with emphasis on edible insects in the hñahñu community of Xamage, Alfajayucan, Hidalgo, Mexico
. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 10.1163/23524588-bja10437
Garcı́a-Flores, A, Cabrera-González, JB, Pino-Moreno, JM. (2026). Knowledge, use and management of insects, with emphasis on edible insects in the hñahñu community of Xamage, Alfajayucan, Hidalgo, Mexico
. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 10.1163/23524588-bja10437
Insects are an important natural resource, both economically and culturally, for indigenous communities, which, through their traditional knowledge, make use of them to obtain material goods such as food for subsistence. The objective of this research was to analyze the knowledge regarding the use and management of insects, with emphasis on edible species, among the inhabitants of the hñahñu community of Xamage in Alfajayucan, Hidalgo, Mexico. Participant observation, guided walks for the collection of organisms for taxonomic identification, and interviews were conducted; in addition, the Cultural Importance Index (CII) and the Medicinal Diversity Value (MDV) of the species were obtained. Collaborators reported the use of 14 insect species belonging to five orders and 13 families, with the milpa being the main collection site. Three categories of use were recorded: food (86%), medicinal (36%), and religious (7%). Six preparation methods for edible insects were reported, with roasting being the most cited (75%); medicinal insects were used to treat six diseases, including asthma. The highest CII was for the beehive (Apis mellifera) with a value of 0.53, followed by Thasus gigas (xamues) and Comadia redtenbacheri (chinicuil), with values of 0.27 and 0.24 respectively. Regarding MDV, the beehive registered the highest value (0.43). The developmental stages of insects used include eggs, pupae, nymphs, larvae, and adults. Collaborators reported 13 host plants for the insects, with Neltuma laevigata (mezquite) being the most notable. The traditional knowledge preserved by the inhabitants of Xamage regarding insects has allowed them to use these organisms as food and medicine, highlighting their cultural importance. This knowledge can be integrated into public policies that contribute to community food security.
