For Gabriel Araújo, bug oil has always been a part of everyday life. Growing up on Brazil’s Marajó Archipelago, a network of more than 2,500 islands dotted around the mouth of the Amazon River, he recalls the oil being a household staple for many Marajoaras, as the islanders are known. The product, a golden liquid extracted from the larvae of the tucumã stone beetle (Speciomerus ruficornis), is mostly used topically for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and wound-healing properties — although some people also use it in cooking.

“I have several memories, old and recent, of the use of animal oil when someone at home has some kind of inflammation or pain,” said Araújo, a researcher at the Center for Advanced Studies in Biodiversity (Ceabio), a biotech research hub, and at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and the Amazon Oils Laboratory (LOA).

Until recently, the benefits of bug oil were mostly anecdotal, but scientific research is now confirming its potential, linking Indigenous wisdom with biotechnology.

Researchers from Ceabio, UFPA and LOA, in collaboration with Pará State University (UEPA), are studying the bug oil’s medicinal properties and analyzing any potential risks for human use. Scientific validation could increase its value, allowing local communities to sell it at higher prices by certifying its safety for the market.

These efforts are part of the growing shift to a bioeconomy, strongly endorsed by the Pará state government, to transform biological materials into high-value products, thereby creating economic opportunities while preserving ecosystems.

“The product shifts from being seen solely as traditional knowledge to also being recognized by the scientific community and the market,” Araújo told Mongabay. “This recognition helps strengthen the bioeconomy of local communities, giving them more leverage to negotiate fair prices, avoid exploitation, and continue the activity sustainably and with respect for nature.”

Multipurpose bug oil

Laboratory tests have so far shown that the stone bug larvae oil is generally nontoxic to human cells, except at very high concentrations, Renata Noronha, researcher and coordinator of Ceabio’s genetics and cell biology lab, told Mongabay.

Researchers at the Guamá Science and Technology Park (PCT) are examining the oil’s genetic effects and exploring potential applications in medicine, cosmetics and insect repellent. So far, the findings point to certain variants of the oil being gentle on the skin, aiding cell regeneration, and showing no toxic effects — all of which strengthen its potential as a healing or cosmetic ingredient.

Analyses also highlight its rich composition of unsaturated fatty acids, which are linked to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, healing and even anti-tumor properties. The use of controlled lab environments allows researchers to evaluate these properties effectively, while keeping animal testing to a minimum.

“This data is important because it brings bug oil closer to practical applications in cosmetic and therapeutic products like ointments and healing salves, ensuring that its use is both safe and effective,” Araújo said.

Bug oil’s cultural and economic importance

The Guamá PCT, operating since 2010 in Belém, the Pará state capital, uses technology to transform forest-based resources into high-value products, aiming to build a sustainable and thriving billion-dollar bioeconomy. The park acts as a hub for applied research, with 12 labs fostering collaboration between government, academia and companies to translate local knowledge into marketable products and services in sectors like pharmaceuticals, technology, cosmetics and energy.

With this approach, Brazilian authorities and investors say they’re increasingly hopeful that new products and technological applications for the Amazon’s biodiversity will offer local populations alternatives to deforestation and increase the appeal of sustainably harvesting the region’s resources. A study suggests that a boosted bioeconomy could potentially increase the Brazilian Amazon’s annual GDP by 40 billion reais ($7 billion).

In the Marajó Archipelago, bug oil, besides being a household staple, already serves as a source of income for families in the towns of Soure and Salvaterra on the main island of Marajó, with knowledge of its extraction passed down through generations. The bug oil is produced by extracting the stone beetle larvae from tucumã palm seeds, sanitizing them, and frying them to release the fat. The oil is then filtered, stored, and later used or sold.

It’s also important for both health and income in smaller communities. In the remote local community of Saracá, for instance, daily life revolves around harvesting açaí berries, farming livestock on a small scale, and producing medicinal oils, particularly bug oil from the stone beetle. With limited access to health care, residents rely on traditional remedies, using bug oil for basic medical needs.

Although only five of Saracá’s 52 families extract the oil, all use it, underscoring its cultural significance and the importance of trade within the community. Local knowledge guides the collection of tucumã seeds: those with small holes usually hold beetle larvae, while heavier ones may not have been used by the beetle and could still contain the nut inside.

It takes a full paneiro (large basket) of seeds to extract a liter of oil, making collection a time-consuming process. Some people gather seeds as they go about their daily activities, while others involve the entire family, turning it into a social activity enjoyed by children. Due to the labor-intensive nature of the process, many families choose not to extract the oil.

The researchers at the Guamá PCT are evaluating new forms of extraction, using technologies such as ultrasound, and pressing rather than frying, to obtain an extract of high quality and bioeconomic value. The research involves close contact with the community.

Luís Adriano Nascimento, deputy coordinator of the LOA, said that, through UEPA, they have connected with extractivist communities, particularly Afro-Brazilian quilombo settlements, to assess the state of seed collection and oil extraction. They’re also evaluating the business potential not only for bug oil but also for other vegetable oils and butters produced locally in Salvaterra and Soure.

“These innovations then return to the wider population in the form of scientifically proven benefits. In this sense, bug oil and similar products from the Amazon become not just symbols of tradition, but also drivers of innovation and new product development,” Nascimento said.

Challenges and future prospects

Rising demand for bug oil from other communities and in urban areas provides income opportunities for the Marajó communities, particularly those dependent on seasonal resources. A community member told researchers for a study published in 2022 that they had expanded their harvesting areas to meet the “growing demand for the [bug] oil.” This suggests, according to the 2022 study, that increased interest in the product could drive further expansion, potentially leading to overexploitation. While seasonal restrictions may help limit this risk, the long-term impacts remain uncertain and require ongoing evaluation.

“Since the activity is limited to May and June, it may not yet pose a threat to beetle populations, which are vital pollinators of the tucumã palm. Further studies are needed to assess potential environmental impacts,” according to the study.

Still, sustainability remains a priority for researchers and community partners. For Nascimento, scientific validation not only boosts the credibility and value of the oil, but also promotes “conscious, rational and organized” use that prevents overexploitation and safeguards biodiversity. “Once sustainable use is established, everyone benefits,” he added. “The product gains market value, and quality control can be implemented to ensure consistent standards.”

Bioeconomic solutions, such as the bug oil coupled with scientific research, not only offer a potentially sustainable economic opportunity that supports keeping the Amazon Rainforest standing; it also maintains and values Indigenous and traditional cultures, Araújo said

“This scientific recognition helps to elevate Marajó culture and preserve both its traditional knowledge and the biodiversity of the Amazon,” he said.

Banner image: The larvae are extracted from tucumã palm seeds, cleaned, and then fried to release the fat to make the bug oil. Image © Gabriel Araújo/Ceabio and LOA.

Raw materials become high-value bioeconomy goods at an Amazon science park

Citation

Pereira, J. D. S. M., Simões, A., & Cañete, V. R. (2022). Óleo do bicho do caroço do tucumã (Speciomerus ruficornis Germar). ContraCorrente: Revista do Programa de Pós-Graduação Interdisciplinar em Ciências Humanas, 18, 192-207. Retrieved from https://periodicos.uea.edu.br/index.php/contracorrente/article/view/2552

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