Traditional Value of Red Weaver Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) as Food and Medicine in Mayurbhanj District of Odisha, India

Abstract

The current study reveals the documentation of traditional use and ethno-entomological value of Red weaver ant in Mayurbhanj district with special reference to tribal health and safety prospective. The traditional information are collected through questionnaires in six selected zones of Mayurbhanj district. The resident tribes of this district commonly use this species as a delicious food and traditional medicine to treat different aliment in their daily life. The brood of this arboreal species is mostly found in tropical fruit plants. This species is mostly consumed in the form of a Chutney in daily diet. The tribes use this species as medicine in different disease like common cold, fever, Jaundice, enteric problems, Whooping cough and to increase the hungriness. The Rairangpur has the maximum dietary value, ecological value and economic use i.e. 83.54%, 68.99% and 79.11% respectively and highly defensive in nature. In Udala area 79.19% people are mostly use this species as medicine in traditional treatment and 67.79% informants are having cultural beliefs towards this species. The tribes in Baripada, Rairangpur, Jashipur, Betanati and Idala are harvesting these species for commercial use and sell in local markets @ Rs.10/100gm of pouch. The dietary use and medicinal claims suggests that Red weaver ant could be an alternative source of nutrition and medicine for human society. Similar studies should be conducted to find out more edible insects of human interest. The Indigenous techniques of utilizing edible insects should be conserved before vanishing from different tribal culture and the scientific evaluation of these species can direct to build a new era of healthy and prosperous life.