11/11/2024
“...We know what animals do
and what are the needs of the deer,
of the fish, of the birds, and the other animals...
We have lived here for thousands of years
and the animals taught us many years ago.
Our ancestors hunted the animals
and they passed on their knowledge of family to family”
Antonio Alcaman, Mehuín, Provincia de Valdivia "
Here, we describe the close relationship between the giant bumble bee Bombus dahlbomii and the Mapuche people, both of which are native to Chile and Argentina. Historical, domestic, and spiritual aspects are mentioned, including the harvest and use of honey. We discuss the loss of aspects of Mapuche culture due to the current conservation status of B. dahlbomii.
https://ieb-chile.cl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/montalva-etal-2020-ethnoentomology.pdf