Traditional medicinal knowledge about Aulacophora intermedia feeding on Jowar, in Chhattisgarh, India.

According to the reference literatures Jowar (Sorghum vulgare) is one of the major millet crops of India. Its grains are used as food and stem and leaves are used as fodder. The sorghum grain is used as raw material in malting industry and also as source of starch in fermentation industry, for manufacturing industrial alcohol and acetone. Jowar in well known agricultural crop in many parts of Chhattisgarh. Many insects attack on different plant parts of Jowar. Aulacophora intermedia, the Chrysomelid beetles are one of these insects. During the Ethno-entomological surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have noted that the traditional healers of Rajnandgaon region use the full fed adults and grubs of Aulacophora intermedia as medicine. The related species of Alulacophora are not used by these traditional healers. The healers informed that the beetles are used in combination with medicinal herbs in treatment of skin diseases. The herbal combinations having powdered beetles are used in form of decoction. The decoction is applied externally on affected parts. The healers have deep faith in the traditional uses of Aluacophora. I have observed during the survey, that many senior natives are also aware of this use. They are using the decoction of full fed beetles in treatment of skin related troubles in cattle particularly in rainy season. Although the traditional healers have no standardized way to prepare the decoction but I have noted that in general, the beetles and water are taken in 1:5 ratio and the solution is boiled. When half quantity (of initial quantity) of solution remains the boiling is stopped and decoction is used. Many times the healers mix the decoction with Kanhar (Black) soil and in form of aqueous paste use it in treatment of skin diseases. The healers further informed that in most of the cases when all common herbs and herbal combinations fail to cure the trouble, only in such cases the decoction of Beetles is used. The Beetles are used only during growing season of Jowar. The healers are not in favour of its off-season use. In off-season they use other insect species for treatment. The beetles collected from organically grown Jowar crops are considered fit as medicine.


The name of Aulacophora intermedia is not present in the list of medicinal insects in reference literatures. The unique use of this beetle is coming for the first time in front of world community through this article.


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