Ethnoentomology

Collection of additional data. We need your help!

Collaboration with other institutions. If you are interested please contact Rob Toms. We are especially interested in international sponsor collaboration and SADC collaboration.

Ethnobotany

Ethnobotanical study into the substances smoked in Shakespearian pipes http://www.neuronet.co.za/index.html and pipes used in the fort at Cape Town (in progress). This project will be extended to look at substance smoked in older African pipes, subject to their availability. 

Project leader. 

Transformation of displays

Some of the displays at the Transvaal Museum have recently been transformed. Some of the information we are now collecting may be relevant to the transformation of other displays. If you have ideas or comments, please contact us.

Indigenous Knowledge in the Classroom

Identification of priority projects has resulted in a decision to prioritise research on Mashonzha (mopane worms)  and Thongolifha (edible stink-bugs)

as these are insects that are of great cultural importance. In the case of the mopane worm we found that although knowledge of the life cycle is essential for sustainable management, there is a great deal of confusion about the life cycle. We also found that many science and biology teachers in the Limpopo Province do not know the life cycle and we identified a need for a poster on the life cycle. The first poster on the life cycle of MASHONZHA (the mopane worm) has been produced. We have also produced a poster on THONGOLIFHA (the edible stink-bug) and we are busy producing a poster on the red locust. We are also working on posters on the bee and the termite. We are looking for sponsors to fund the production of large quantities of these posters for classrooms all over South Africa.  

POSTERS
MASHONZHA (the mopane worm)
THONGOLIFHA (the edible stink-bug)
BELEBELE TSIE (the red locust)   

The development of an ethnoentomology database is in progress. Collection of additional data is in progressing, but we need your help! If you can help or if you are interested in obtaining information please contact Rob Toms. The indigenous knowledge bill (in the process of becoming an act) is designed to protect people with knowledge, so your knowledge will be protected and will not become public domain without your consent.

Collaboration with other institutions. If you are interested please contact Rob Toms. We are especially interested in international sponsor collaboration and SADC collaboration.

How you can help?

If you have any interesting information about the cultural or traditional uses of insects please contact use . We need your knowledge to add to our database.