Table 1.

Summary of differences between four ethnic groups utilising stinkbugs in Southern Africa

	Mapulana (n = 37)	Vhavenda (n = 37)	Bolobedu (n = 29)	Shona (n = 3)
Origins and description of ethnic group	Mapulana are a sub-group of the northern Sotho	East African and Karanga (Zimbabwe) origins. Of eight Vhavenda sub-groups the Vhatavhatsindi, Vhambedzi and Vhangona eat stinkbugs	Karanga origins, settling first in Venda and finally at Ga-Modjadji. Bolobedu are the people of the Rain Queen and are also known as Balobedu or Lovedu	Karanga
Common vernacular	SePulana	TshiVenda.	Lobedu	Shona
Location	Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, South Africa	Thohoyandou and surrounding villages, Thulamela Local Municipality, South Africa	Ga-Modjadji, Greater Letaba Local Municipality, South Africa	Bikita, Zimbabwe
Colonial era names	Mapulaneng	Venda	Duiwelskloof	Rhodesia
First use of stinkbugs and origin of current use	Recorded in 1944 [17]; pensioners claim to have learnt from grandparents	± 1930; pensioners claim to have learnt from grandparents	1982; claim to have learnt from co-workers at Middlekop tea estate	Recorded in 1905 [13]
Nomenclature	Tsonônô = he farts and is fat	Thungulifha, Dzhovhe, Mbilimedzi from vhilimedza = running after them, Dzama = to die, Fhela = they are scarce, Mbilimedzi khuluvhali = it is hot/very bitter/chillie flavour, Murotho = chemical secretion	Thongolifha, Podile = it is rotten, Morotho = chemical secretion	Harugwa, Harurwa = bitter caterpillar
Collection bag used	A fruit bag with loose weave similar to shade cloth	A maize meal or fruit bag	A maize meal bag
Storage method	Live stinkbugs kept in fruit bag	Prepared stinkbugs displayed in open containers/spread on bags
Shelf-life of stinkbugs	After two weeks captivity stinkbugs taste bitter [24]	After six months will taste stale/mouldy