Objective. To determine the perception of entomophagy as a healthy foodalternative in Panama. Methods. A non-probabilistic sampling was carriedout, targeting 100 people between 18 and 65 years of age, with an educational level of secondary school or higher, a 1:1 ratio of men and women, residents of urban and peri-urban areas, 44% of whom were public servants. An electronic form was shared with them with the following questions: what insects do youknow that are edible, what benefts do you know about the consumption ofinsects, have you ever eaten insects, would you include insects in your diet,why yes or no would you include them? The data were analyzed with Microsoft Excel and PSPP programs. Results. Fifty-eight percent of respondents were aware that crickets and grasshoppers are edible; 45% recognized protein and other nutrients as healthy benefts of eating insects, but a similar percen...

El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar larvas urticantes de Lepidoptera encontradas en parcelas con cultivos hortícolas en Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panamá y confirmar los posibles síntomas causados por erucismo y lepidopterismo. Se realizaron 16 muestreos aleatorios durante 14 meses y medio, en parcelas con cultivos, vegetación aledaña e infraestructuras. Se tomaron fotografías y se recolectaron muestras para su procesamiento en el laboratorio. Se consultó literatura especializada para la identificación. Se levantó una encuesta a 33 personas afectadas por erucismo o lepidopterismo. De acuerdo con los resultados, las larvas encontradas en los cultivos correspondieron a Leucanella hosmera (Schaus, 1941) (Saturniidae), Halysidota tessellaris (Smith, 1797) (Erebidae), Acharia stimulea (Clemens, 1860) (Limacodidae) y se encontró un espécimen adulto de Megalopyge operculari...