Consumptive and Non-Consumptive Uses of Water Beetles (Aquatic coleopterans) in Sub-Saharan Traditional Rituals

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Despite the considerable amount of research conducted on the roles of water beetles in African cultural rituals, their long-term viability for use in these rituals has not been sufficiently investigated. This study was, therefore, conducted in an effort to address this lacuna in human–animal scholarship. We examined the traditional rituals through a consumptive versus non-consumptive lens. Although the notions of consumptive and non-consumptive resource use have been widely explored in other fields such as water resource management and the study of mammals and other vertebrate species (in ecotourism), their application to human–aquatic insect interactions is currently sparse. Notwithstanding the need for further research in this area, our assessment was inexhaustive in establishing conclusive differentiations about the consumptive or non-consumptive nature of the majority of the rituals. Thus, most of the classifications were hypothetical. Certain aspects of the challenges encountered could be attributed to the inexplicit nature of consumptive and non-consumptive concepts when applied to human–animal interactions and use. As a result, our study shows that the application of categorization methods specifically tailored for abiotic resources may encounter limitations when applied to biotic resources. ABSTRACT: The use of wild animals in customary rituals and as a sustenance resource is a longstanding tradition within sub-Saharan Africa. The emergence of commercial trade, has, however, created unattainable demands and has led to the overexploitation of animals. These demands are threatening the conservation of animal species exploited in this trade. Comparatively little research effort has been dedicated to invertebrate species, and, specifically, their non-commercial uses. We explored the uses of water beetles in traditional rituals. We investigate the extent to which each of the non-commercial uses of water beetles exhibits consumptive and non-consumptive use features. The concepts are contested as their application for describing human–animal interactions has been challenged because of insufficient physiological and conservation data on the implications for animals of such interactions. The inadequacy of the available data pertaining to the use of animal resources was particularly pronounced. Most research efforts are skewed towards vertebrates at the expense of invertebrates. Regardless, the study shows that most non-commercial exploitation and uses of water beetles were mainly non-destructive and, if consumptive, the uses could be described as mainly non-lethal consumptive or sub-lethal consumptive. Rituals that could be described as lethal-consumptive comprised a smaller fraction of the uses of water beetles.