Various tribes across the globe used insects as a source of food, art, a source of medicine, and instruments of worship (Naswa, 1999). However, in recent times, insects have been symbols of many ideas, specifically in literature. Many fantasy novels and scientific books portray the dangerous characteristics of insects to instill fear (Hogue, 1993). Some fanciful stories and superstitions are meant to give good and bad attributes of insects such as the spider. The use of insects was best developed by the Indians who used to live in North America (Chakravarthy &Sridhara, 2016). Many Indians living in the Amazon use insects for religious roles, and they were thought to play an essential role as mythic figures or deities. Most of their rituals are carried out using insects, for example, the giant hunting ants were commonly used during puberty’s ceremonies. Like another tribe in Brazil, an individual must endure the stings of wasps as a rite of passage.
Metallic beetle parts are also used as ornaments by most of the Indians in this region. Other insects like the katydids and crickets are used as pets. Insects were also used as aesthetics like Butterflies since they are the most beautiful creatures, and they come in various colors and patterns, which are appealing to human beings. Native Americans are said to have removed some parts of insects and attached them to their crafts (Naswa, 1999). Indians also used brightly colored wings of beetles to make earrings. Other tribes, like the Egyptians, had chosen a scrub and made it their god. Insects are used to produce some products like Lac, which comes from lac insects. We also have beeswax and Dyes. Other insects, such as fruit flies, have recently been used in the study of genetics because of their short lifespan (Naswa, 1999). Some insects possessed some medicinal properties that were used by human beings.
References
In Chakravarthy, A. K., & In Sridhara, S. (2016). Economic and Ecological Significance of Arthropods in Diversified Ecosystems: Sustaining Regulatory Mechanisms. Singapore: Springer Singapore.
Hogue, C. L. (1993). Latin American insects and entomology. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Naswa, S. (1999). Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Ethnography and bibliography. New Delhi: Mittal Publ.
