Activities having Ghana’s (Not so) Alluring Language Travel

This post started off since an easy post concerning the unpleasant blister pests i have doing our house into the northern Ghana. Toward many occasions they have brought about awful blisters with the Heidi and you can myself and i also wished to find out more about all of them. I experienced destroyed for hours pursuing the bunny trails once i investigated the topic also it merely went on for lots more and interesting. Nothing is actually as simple as it seems. And that i form of love you to definitely.

Northern Ghana’s Green Blister Beetle

My personal initial step is to discover what the latest residents call it. No body I spoke in order to is actually used to the definition of “blister bug.” This bug – in fact an effective “green blister beetle” – known in your community because abdulatanka. That isn’t a phrase inside the a native Ghanaian language but Pidgin English to own “Abdullah’s Tanker” – a regard to a Muslim guy driving a petrol tanker. As to why? Due to the fact eco-friendly blister beetle leaks a dangerous liquid and contains a tanker-shaped straight back top. Plus the stereotypical big-rig rider within the Ghana is a beneficial Muslim guy having an enthusiastic Arabic name.

There was an entire scientific family of blister beetles label Meloidae that have up to 3000 variety. You to genus for the reason that nearest and dearest try Lytta additionally the offensive blister insect within our experiences seems to fall in one to class.

As to why Blisters?

Men blister beetles exude a keen odorless, colorless liquid entitled cantharidin. It is intended to be passed away with the female shortly after mating while the a beneficial copulatory current (aww, exactly how sweet). (más…)