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Weaver ants IMG_1443

"Weaver ants or green ants (genus Oecophylla) are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae (order Hymenoptera). Weaver ants are obligately arboreal and are known for their unique nest building behaviour where workers construct nests by weaving together leaves using larval silk. Colonies can be extremely large consisting of more than a hundred nests spanning numerous trees and contain more than half a million workers."

"Weaver ants are one of the most valued types of insects eaten by humans (entomophagy). In addition to being used as a biological control agent to increase plant production, weaver ants can be utilized directly as a protein and food source since the ants (especially the ant larvae) are edible for humans and high in protein and fatty acids."

 

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaver_ant

www.antdiversityindia.com)

 

It is said workers ants are used in traditional medicine in India.

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Uploaded on February 22, 2015
Taken on April 23, 2014