Asian Myrmecology, Volume 2, Applied Myrmecology
The importance of weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius) harvest to a local community in Northeastern Thailand
WISSANURAK SRIBANDIT 1, DECHA WIWATWITAYA 1, SANTI SUKSARD 2 & JOACHIM
OFFENBERG 3*
1 Department of Forest Biology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
2 Department of Forest Management, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
3 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Abstract. Ants of the species Oecophylla smaragdina are a valued resource in some
Southeast Asian countries since they are edible. In Thailand they are an expensive
delicacy collected in high numbers from natural habitats. In this study we interviewed
25 ant collectors in Nakhon Ratchasima Province to elucidate the extent of ant collection
and its socioeconomic impact. On average more than 3 persons per village collected
the ants, each collecting on average 219 (± 107.5) kg of ants per year. This yield led to
a daily income of 411 THB (12.1 US$) per working day during the 4-5 month ant
harvesting season, corresponding to approximately 1.5 - 2.6 times the minimum wage
(162 THB day-1) in the province. On average, the yearly income from ants constituted
30 % of the total household income among the ant collectors and additionally supplied
their families with an animal food source. The major issues considered problematic by
ant collectors were the increasing number of people collecting ants and high travel
distances to ant sites. Increased harvesting pressure may put the natural ant
populations at risk. We discuss ant farming as a potential solution to these problems.
Keywords: insects as food, ethnoentomology, entomophagy, Nakhon Ratchasima,
ant farming, socioeconomy