The “snake-mantis”, Phibalosoma sp. (Insecta, Phasmida), as perceived by the inhabitants from Pedra Branca, Santa Terezinha, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

This paper discusses the way the dwellers from the town of Pedra Branca, located in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, perceive and relate with the stick insects (Insect, Phasmida). Part of the data was obtained in one day in May 2004 by performing open-ended interviews with 12 children and adolescents, whose ages ranged from 5 to 17 years old. Additional data was obtained from February to May 2001 by performing open-ended interviews with 25 men and 26 women, whose ages ranged from 24 to 82 years old. Results show that people usually gather insects from three different taxa (Phasmida, Mantodea, and Tettigoniidae) under the label “snake-mantis”. Interviewees have provided information related to the ethnotaxonomy, behavior, ontogeny, morphology, habitat, and food ecology of the stick insects. The most commented and widespread knowledge regarding these insects refers to their biotransformation or metamorphic process, where it is believed they originate from plants, and then change themselves into snakes locally known as “cobra-de-cipó”. The metamorphosis of the snake-mantis has significance in the way people understand and relate with it.