Indigenous Knowledge of the Edible Weaver Ant Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius Hymenoptera: Formicidae from the Vientiane Plain, Lao PDR

  • Joost Van Itterbeeck Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
  • Niane Sivongxay Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, National University of Laos, Ban Dongdok, Vientiane, PO Box 7322
  • Bounthob Praxaysombath Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, National University of Laos, Ban Dongdok, Vientiane, PO Box 7322
  • Arnold van Huis Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
Keywords: Oecophylla smaragdina, entomophagy, edible insects, indigenous knowledge, Lao PDR, semi-cultivation, agroforestry

Abstract

Of major importance in realizing the potential of edible insects as a core element in improving food security, sustainable food production, and biodiversity conservation, are developments in sustainable exploitation of wild edible insect populations and in (semi-)cultivating and farming edible insects. Such developments can draw on both western science and indigenous knowledge. Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius Hymenoptera: Formicidae, of which particularly the queen brood is commonly consumed in Thailand and the Lao PDR, is believed to have the potential to act as flagship/umbrella species in forest conservation and management, to be incorporated simultaneously as biological control agent and direct source of human food in agroforestry practices, and to be (semi-)cultivated. We provide a detailed account of indigenous knowledge of O. smaragdina and ant brood collection practices from the Vientiane Plain, Lao PDR, through focus group discussions and participant observations, and then reflect on sustainability and conservation issues, and on semi-cultivating constraints and possibilities embedded in indigenous knowledge and ant brood collection practices.

 

Author Biographies

Joost Van Itterbeeck, Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands

Joost Van Itterbeeck is a PhD student at the Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University.

Niane Sivongxay, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, National University of Laos, Ban Dongdok, Vientiane, PO Box 7322

Niane Sivongxay is a lecturer at the Department of Biology, National University of Laos.

Bounthob Praxaysombath, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, National University of Laos, Ban Dongdok, Vientiane, PO Box 7322

Bouthob Praxaysombath is head of the Department of Biology, National University of Laos.

Arnold van Huis, Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands

Arnold van Huis is a tropical entomologist at the Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University.

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Published
2014-01-11
How to Cite
Van Itterbeeck, J., Sivongxay, N., Praxaysombath, B., & van Huis, A. (2014). Indigenous Knowledge of the Edible Weaver Ant Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius Hymenoptera: Formicidae from the Vientiane Plain, Lao PDR. Ethnobiology Letters, 5, 4-12. https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.5.2014.125
Section
Research Communications