The Use of Gyrinids and Dytiscids for Stimulating Breast Growth in East Africa

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12810
AutoresRuth Kutalek (0000-0002-3325-3173, University of Vienna), Afework Kassa (Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Año2005
Volumen25
Número1
Páginas115-128
Fecha de publicación2005-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Ethnobiology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0278-0771 • E-ISSN: 2162-4496
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2993/0278-0771_2005_25_115_tuogad_2.0.co_2
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas40

The use of whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae) and predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae) for stimulating breast growth in East Africa is a unique traditional practice. The beetles are collected by young girls from rivers and pools and held to their nipples where the beetles "bite" in a defensive reaction. Simultaneously the beetles secrete defensive substances which are produced in special glands to discourage possible vertebrate predators. Gyrinids produce, among other substances, norsesquiterpenes. The Dytiscids also possess prothoracic defensive glands, which produce, among other substances, hormone-like steroids. Larvae of antlions (Myrmeleontidae) are similarly used in East Africa