Description
Weaver ants are a popular type of edible insect that humans consume as a part of their entomophagy diet. These ants aren’t only a good idea for plant production as biological keep watch over agents, but they may be able to also be used as an immediate source of protein and food because of their high protein and fatty acid content, particularly in the ant larvae. In some regions, weaver ants are considered a highly prized delicacy and contribute significantly to local socio-economics by being harvested in large quantities. For example, in Northeastern Thailand, the cost of weaver ant larvae is twice that of high-quality beef, and in a single province. The harvest of weaver ants does not compromise their usefulness as biocontrol agents of pest insects in tropical plantations since the queen larvae and pupae, which are the primary targets of harvest, aren’t essential for colony survival. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the harvest of weaver ants can be sustained at the same time as concurrently utilizing them for biocontrol purposes.
