THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARTHROPODS AND POPULAR CULTURE

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between arthropods and human cultures, investigating their role in subsistence practices, rituals, and symbolic representations. Developed as part of the Ecosystem services provided by arthropods project, the research combined bibliographic review and data collection, focusing on terms such as ethnozoology, Sateré-Mawé, and crab cycle. The results reveal: (1) the symbiotic relationship between mangrove communities and crabs, described by Josué de Castro as an ecological-cultural cycle; (2) the Sateré-Mawé initiation rituals involving bullet ants (Paraponera clavata); (3) the Egyptian scarab as a religious symbol; and (4) the presence of arthropods in geek culture as an educational tool. The analysis demonstrates how Cultural Zoology and Ethnozoology elucidate human-animal interactions, emphasizing the need for policies that reconcile environmental conservation and cultural preservation, aligned with Integral Ecology and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study concludes that arthropods sustain both ecosystems and cultural traditions, playing a vital role in socio-environmental balance. Their integrated study provides a foundation for sustainable development strategies that value traditional knowledge and biodiversity.