Perceptions and importance of insects in the urban area of Mexico City, Mexico

Abstract

In different times and places, all the cultures have made use of the plant and animal resources to satisfy different material and spiritual necessities. This brief study explores the notions and collective knowledge that middle class people in Mexico City possess on the insects through establishing the reasons of pleasure and displeasure and of their virtual importance. For this end 140 interviews were conducted (78 men and 62 women) whose ages ranged from 13 to 72 years and whose activities were diverse, but subjects were primarily students. In eight cases they correctly identified all insect examples; the listing of organisms referred as insects totaled 86, with ten being the most frequent. It was found that their concepts are general and they included organisms that are not insects. The tendency is to perceive unpleasant and harmful aspects on these organisms.