The International Conference and the the 10th Congress of Entomological Society of Indonesia (ICCESI)  2019 is a joint effort of the Entomological Society of Indonesia with IPB University, University of Udayana and Entomological Society of Malaysia. The theme of this conference is “Learning from the Past, Adapting for the Future: Advancements in Ethnoentomology and Entomological Sciences for Food Security and Health”. This Conference will highlight ethnoentomology and entomological issues, discuss solutions and share experiences in order to identify pragmatic and scientifically-tested solutions in relation with food security and health issues that can be put into practice to benefit the environment and the society. We anticipate cross discipline dialog that can be the seed for the co-creation of new knowledge that is important for the future of humankind.

Why Ethnoentomology?

Ethnoentomology concerns with the knowledge and use of insects in traditional society. This knowledge has recently gained more attention due to the importance in understanding human-insecct interaction in the face of climate change. Insect uses for food, medicine, and its linked harbors wisdom that maybe of use in this modern world. As a country with high diversity (biocultural diversity), Indonesia is rich with traditional knowledge of insects. These are the following example of ethnoentomology in Indonesia

  1. Insect as Food

Sago Maggot

Sago maggot (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is one of the edible insect larvae which are often served as dishes by several ethnic in Indonesia, especially from Sulawesi and Papua Region. This insect is known as red palm weevil which is also classified as pest of palm plantation. Sago Maggot contains fat which constitute the most energy-dense macronutrient in food. According to some research, sago magot also contain high protein. The maggots can be served raw by consuming the body directly or cooked with other spices such as garlic, shallot and chilli.

Teak tree cocoon (Entung Jati)

Teak tree cocoon (Hyblaea pluea) is a traditional dish from Bojonegoro, East Java. This insect larvae usually damage the leaves of teak plant. Local people collect the teak tree cocoon from the ground surface of teak plantation. Beside having a good nutrition (contains high protein), this cocoon also have a high economic value.

2. Petalangan Community Riau

Petalangan community lived relatively isolated at the forest margins in Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. This community had implemented the phylosophy of ethnoentomology. Petalangan community view bees (Apis dorsata and Apis florea) as a symbol of health and prosperity and the sialang trees, where the bees nest, as a symbol of the universe. They avoid cutting down the sialang trees and all other trees surrounding the sialang trees. Petalangan community also practiced seasonal patterns of planting and harvesting which has an impact for enhanching pollination. The bee-hunting activities of Petalangan Community enhance cooperation supported through rituals and cultural ceremonies (Cited from: The Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Chapter 5 (IPBES 2017)).

3. Traditional dance: Oleg tamulilingan

Oleg Tamulilingan comes from Bali language, Oleg means the slow and graceful motion, while tambulilingan means a bee that consumed the flower nectar. Oleg Tambulilingan dance describe about the bee’s motion that played with a flower. Oleg Tamulilingan dance was created in 1952 by the great artist I Ketut Marya (I Mario) and become the most popular masterpiece among the other dances that he had been created before. In the beginning, this masterpiece was requested by John Coast, a humanist from England that impressed with Bali’s Culture and Art, to be promoted in Europe and United State. This dance usually performed by a man and a woman. This traditional dance will be performed on the opening ceremony of ICCESI 2019 and dedicated to this event.

4. Gumatat gumitit (hewan upakara)

Upakara which oftenly known as ‘banten’ is a holy sacrifice made from flowers, fruits or even animals and used in any spiritual ceremony. There are various type of upakara which are used for different occassions. Several insects are also commonly used as upakara, it is called gumatat gumitit. Gumatat gumitit means ‘small animals’.

5. Mollo Community from East Nusa Tenggara

Indonesia have various kind of natural honey and one of them are from Timor Region, called Mutis Honey. This honey was produced by bee (Order:Apidae) and harvest directly from the forest by local ethnic. Ampupu (Eucalyptus urophylla) and Kayu Putih (Eucalyptus alba) are commonly the host plant for the bees where they build the bee hives and produce honey. The Local ethnics called Masyarakat Mollo, used to harvest the honey twice a year in traditional ways with a strict customary regulations. The most interesting part is Masyarakat Mollo have to do some traditional ceremony for harvesting the honey, such as praying to the ancestors and singing along the way to harvest the honey. They believe that those songs are a praise and hope for the bee to keep producing honey for the next year (cited from: https://repository.ipb.ac.id/handle/123456789/75413).

The knowledge of society and insects covers a whole range of issues from medicine, food, ecological knowledge and many more. In this Conference we inviting practitioners, researchers, academicians, artists, to come and discuss the importance of this knowledge with the future human society.