The life history, use and socio-economics of the edible stinkbug encosternum delegorguei (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae), in South Africa

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2014.Entomophagy, the consumption of insects, has attracted interest as a low input minilivestock with good nutritional value. The inflated stinkbug, Encosternum delegorguei, is an appetizing food, a hangover cure and a trade item in South Africa, Malawi and Zimbabwe yet very little is known about it. This study comprehensively integrates plant aspects (food and shelter) and insect biology (distribution, life cycle and fecundity) with socio-economic and conservation aspects. Firstly, E. delegorguei was observed in outdoor insectaries where it exhibited reproductive winter diapause and declining abdominal fat content attributed to non-feeding. In spring (September) E. delegorguei fed on Combretum imberbe, Combretum molle (Combretaceae), Peltophorum africanum (Fabaceae), and to a lesser degree on Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae) and the grass Pennisetum clandestinum (Poaceae). Copulation occurred during October/November but eclosion was reduced by the egg parasitoid wasp, Anastatus sp. Secondly, structured interview schedules with 106 harvesters indicated that an estimated total of 3803 + 43.4 kg (mean+S.E.) dry stinkbugs was harvested with an annual gross per capita income of =US$ 345. In South Africa stinkbugs are consumed by two locally separate ethnic groups the Vhavenda and Mapulana, with a third group, the Bolobedu selling them. Ethnic differences in nomenclature and oral history, methods of collection and preparation, as well as perceptions pertaining to availability were documented between the three groups. Damage to host trees occurred when harvesters poached from pine plantations or private land, whereas, in communal-lands, sustainable methods proliferated. Using a regional maximum entropy modelling method (MAXENT) on winter locations of E. delegorguei known to harvesters, current and future distribution scenarios were identified. Winter precipitation and to a lesser degree summer precipitation and winter temperature were key climatic variables limiting the regional distribution of E. delegorguei. Moreover, potential new sites unknown to harvesters or areas where minilivestock initiatives could be piloted have been highlighted for further investigation. Opportunities to reduce impediments to collection and trade are discussed in a sustainable framework. For example legitimisation of harvesting and introduction of a collection funnel to reduce conflicts with plantation, orchard and private land managers. Awareness and optimal use of beneficial bio-resources, such as E. delegorguei, could encourage community driven habitat stewardship

Comparative ethnoentomology of edible stinkbugs in southern Africa and sustainable management considerations

Insects, such as stinkbugs, are able to produce noxious defence chemicals to ward off predators, nevertheless, some ethnic groups have recipes to render them delicious. We provide an example of edible stinkbugs (Encosternum delegorguei) used by two locally separate ethnic groups in South Africa, the Vhavenda and Mapulana, with a third group, the Bolobedu using them for commercial purposes. Structured interview schedules and observations with 106 harvesters were conducted to determine differences in use, nomenclature and oral history, methods of collection and preparation as well as perceptions pertaining to availability. The stinkbugs’ foul defence chemical and flight response necessitates nocturnal harvesting when the insect is immobilised by cold. The defence chemical stains the skin and affects vision yet protective gear is not worn. Damage to host trees was recorded when harvesters poached from plantations or private land, whereas, in communal-lands, sustainable methods were preferred. The legitimisation of stinkbug harvesting and introduction of a collection funnel could reduce conflicts with managers of plantations and private land. Two methods to remove the defence chemical for increased palatability were used. Preparation methods differed in whether or not water was used and also whether the head was left intact or removed. Stinkbugs have numerous medicinal uses, in particular as a hangover cure. Awareness and optimal use of beneficial insects, such as stinkbugs, in rural areas could lead to a reconsideration of current environmental management strategies, where harvesters act as habitat stewards and clearing, grazing or burning indigenous vegetation is kept to a minimum.The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa provided funding in the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Focus Area for the project on Insects in Culture and Medicine (FA2006032900013)

Bridging the knowing–doing gap in South Africa and the role of environmental volunteer groups

The implementation gap between science, policy and practice has led to loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services throughout Africa and is described in a case study from Limpopo Province, South Africa. In 2006, the South African National Biodiversity Institute first highlighted the Woodbush Granite Grassland (WGG) in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality as the only Critically Endangered ecosystem in Limpopo Province. Five years later (2011), the Critically Endangered listing was published in the Government Gazette No. 34809. After repeated and sustained efforts for many years from volunteers of a local environmental group - currently known as the Friends of the Haenertsburg Grassland (FroHG) - in 2015 the intent to formally protect 126 ha was published in the Government Gazette No. 2609. Unfortunately, the proposed protected area accounts for only 66% of the largest remaining fragment of WGG, which excludes an important colony of medicinal plants. Considering that only 6% of the original extent of WGG remains in an untransformed state the whole fragment should be conserved. Non-alignment of municipal spatial priorities, as in the Haenertsburg town plan from 1896, to provincial and national environmental priorities has resulted in numerous incidents that have degraded what little remains of the WGG ecosystem. Failure of the provincial authorities to act timeously to enforce environmental regulations resulted in the FroHG successfully involving national authorities to stop illegal land occupation while another incident involving an illegal fence was resolved 9 years after erection. A strengthened relationship with Lepelle Northern Water has resulted in better planning of activities in relation to an existing pipeline. This case study shows various avenues available to environmental volunteer groups in South Africa and suggests that long-term lobbying can yield positive results. Conservation implications: Formal conservation of WGG through the intended nature reserve proclamation represents application of environmental legislation (notably Listing Notice 3, National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998: Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014), scientific recommendations and policy. Better cooperation between provincial administration and FroHG will benefit the protection and management of WGG.NCS201

Host-preference and density of woodrose-forming mistletoes (Loranthaceae) on savanna vegetation, South Africa

In the Bushbuckridge region of South Africa host preference and density of two woodrose-forming mistletoes, Erianthemum dregei (Eckl. and Zeyh.) V. Tieghem and Pedistylis galpinii (Schinz ex Sprague) was quantified in relation to land-use (harvested or unharvested), rainfall (high, more than 660 or low , less than 660 mm year−1) and catenal position (top or lower slope). These two mistletoes are generalist hemi-parasites of savanna trees and shrubs occurring on 25 and 17 hosts respectively, seven of which are shared. Thirty-six percent of woody plant species recorded were found to be hosts. Although Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. comprised only 4% of woody plant density in the environment, it was the principal host for both mistletoes, accounting for 71% of total E. dregei and 42% of P. galpinii infection. Mistletoe infection relative to density of Ficus stuhlmanii, Trichilia emetica and Cassine transvaalensis indicated that these were preferential hosts to S. birrea. Mistletoe host preference was negatively correlated with host wood density. Mistletoe number per tree had a weak relationship to canopy size. Mistletoes of all size classes were denser at high rainfall relative to low rainfall sites. Interestingly, the overall mistletoe size class distribution was similar between harvested and unharvested sites. The ratio of living to dead mistletoe was 2 to 1 for E. dregei and 1.5 to 1 for P. galpinii. There are sufficient dead mistletoes in unharvested and harvested areas to satisfy present market demand. Living E. dregei predominated in harvested rather than unharvested areas suggesting that current-harvesting levels had little or no negative effect on the population. In contrast, P. galpinii was denser in unharvested areas possibly owing to its higher market value and thus higher harvesting levels

The use of and trade in indigenous edible fruits in the Bushbuckridge savanna region, South Africa

The use, processing, cultivation and trading of indigenous edible fruits was recorded across a rainfall gradient in the Mpumalanga lowveld. Three transects, each consisting of one village in a relatively high rainfall zone, one village in a low rainfall zone, and one intermediate, were sampled by means of 20 households per village. Nearly all households made use of indigenous edible fruits to some extent, with households in the wettest region using the greatest diversity of fruits. The duration of availability of selected species was increased through drying, storing and processing the raw fruits for later consumption. Such activities were more common in the drier regions relative to the wetter villages. Just less than half the respondents maintained indigenous fruit trees within their homestead or arable fields, whereas more than 65% grew exotic commercial fruit species. Many respondents traded in edible fruits, but very few obtained a significant income in this way. Nonetheless, even casual trading provided vital supplementary income for low‐income households

Collaborative community partnerships across education settings

This book features chapters by scholars from various education fields specialising in sustainability. As the first volume in North-West University’s Community-based Educational Research Series, it focuses on transforming education through a participatory approach. The authors explore quality education across early childhood, primary, secondary and higher education by examining collaborative efforts among practitioners, parents and teachers. This scholarly book provides empirical evidence on how collaborative initiatives can promote sustainable development. These initiatives encourage partnerships among community leaders, educators, learners, nongovernmental organisations, government and the private sector for lifelong learning and professional development. It highlights southern African experiences in collaborative education, aligned with the United Nations’ sustainable development goal of achieving quality education. The book demonstrates various research designs and methods applied to educational practice from early childhood to tertiary levels through empirical research and community projects

Conservation priorities of useful plants from different techniques of collection and analysis of ethnobotanical data

This study analyzes three methods of data analysis to verify which one would be more appropriate to get information aiming the conservation, selecting the use value (VU) inventory in situ and conservation property index (IPC). It was developed in in Northeast Brazil, via interviewed householders (46 informants). The VU was calculated considering only the effective use of plants; the inventory in situ was made through the frequency of species occurrence in homes; and the IPC combining ethnobotanical and phytossociological data. It was observed a similar cast of the indicated species by VU and inventory in situ, being different from the IPC cast. As this study sought to analyze the best technique for species identification which were needing conservationist actions, and obtained different results among the chosen methods. It has been suggested the use of methods that unite in their analysis both ethnobotanical and ecological aspects, like in the plants list from the priority index of conservation, which demonstrated to be more efficient to identify rare species in the local vegetation. The VU and the inventory in situ are more efficient to identify the most known and used species in the communities, however without analyzing these plants in the local vegetation