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

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12810
AutoresRuth Kutalek (0000-0002-3325-3173, University of Vienna), Afework Kassa (Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Ano2005
Volume25
Fascículo1
Páginas115-128
Data de publicação2005-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Ethnobiology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0278-0771 • E-ISSN: 2162-4496
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2993/0278-0771_2005_25_115_tuogad_2.0.co_2
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências 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