Biodiversity across boundary: Ethnoentomology among the Jakun of Kampung Peta, Mersing and the Malay, Chinese and Indian of Kahang, Kluang, Johor

International Conference on Biodiversity 2018

Kemalok, Jai^1 ; Mohamed, Maryati^1 ; Rahman, Aqilah A.A.^1 ; Ashikin Ismail, Nurul^1

Centre of Research for Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources (COR-SUNR), Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Pagoh Education Hub, Jalan Panchor, Muar, Johor

84000, Malaysia^1

关键词: Four-group;    Human interactions;    Lepidoptera;    Malaysians;    Odonata;    Traditional systems;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/269/1/012024/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1755-1315/269/1/012024

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

An ethnoentomological survey was carried out on the usage of insects in the culture of several ethnics: Orang Asli Jakun in Kampung. Peta, Mersing; the Malay, Chinese and Indian in Kahang, Kluang. Responses from these four communities were compared to understand the uses of insects in their life as well as gauged their views on ethnoentomology. Insects were either part of their spiritual beliefs or used as food, medicine, and entertainment. Four groups of insects were considered, namely Lepidoptera, Homoptera, Odonata and Orthoptera. For example, Dundubia vaginata is used by Orang Asli as a source of food, by Malay as entertainment, by Chinese as medicine and by Indian as part of their beliefs. In terms of percentage of insect recognized per ethnicity, Orang Asli accounts for 44.44%, Malay 22.22%, Chinese 16.67% and Indian 16.67%. It was discovered that among the four communities, Orang Asli Jakun were more knowledgeable and open about using insects traditionally. Many insects were integrated in their folklore and myths. Orang Asli Jakun also had more variety of uses for insects in their day to day life compared to the other three communities. Based on this study, it indicated that much of the Malaysian diversity are known and familiar to Orang Asli. Throughout history, Orang Asli plays important roles in maintaining and managing natural resources through traditional systems. The frequency of human interaction with insects has created a close culture between humans and insects.