Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (Jan 2011)

Edible Lepidoptera in Mexico: Geographic distribution, ethnicity, economic and nutritional importance for rural people

  • Oliva-Rivera Héctor,
  • Landero Ivonne,
  • Vázquez Adolfo I,
  • Moreno José MP,
  • Ramos-Elorduy Julieta,
  • Camacho Víctor HM

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-7-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 2

Abstract

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Abstract In this paper, we reported the butterflies and moths that are consumed in Mexico. We identified 67 species of Lepidoptera that are eaten principally in their larval stage in 17 states of Mexico. These species belong to 16 families: Arctiidae, Bombycidae, Castniidae, Cossidae, Geometridae, Hepialidae, Hesperiidae, Lasiocampidae, Noctuidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Pyralidae, Saturniidae, Sesiidae, and Sphingidae. Saturniidae, Pieridae, Noctuidae and Nymphalidae were the more species consumed with 16, 11, 9, and 8 species, respectively. The genera with the largest numbers of species were: Phassus, Phoebis, Hylesia and Spodoptera, with three species. Their local distribution, corresponding to each state of Mexico, is also presented.