Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Figure 3: Host plants of Kurkuti in Mayurbhanj district; a) Azadirachta indica, b) Barringtonia acutangula, c) Buchanania lanzan, d) Dendrophthoe falcata, e) Ficus religiosa, f) Lannea coromandelica, g) Madhuca longifolia, h) Mangifera indica, i) Phanera vahlii, j) Schleichera oleosa, k) Shorea robusta and l) Strychnos nux-vomica

Observations similar to the present study have been reported from other regions of India, where host plant architecture, canopy connectivity and foliage characteristics strongly influence nest establishment and colony persistence (Rajagopal et al., 2019; Patel and Bhatt, 2020). The findings are in close agreement with the pioneering work of Jena et al., (2020), who documented the traditional consumption and medicinal importance of red weaver ants among tribal communities of Mayurbhanj district. Their study established Kurkuti as an important indigenous food resource, rich in protein and widely used in the preparation of traditional chutney for treating common ailments such as cough, fever, loss of appetite and body pain. While the earlier study primarily emphasized the socio-cultural and nutritional significance of the species, the present investigation extends this understanding by demonstrating that the continuity of these traditional practices is directly dependent on the conservation of host plant diversity. Thus, preserving the vegetation supporting O. smaragdina colonies is equally important for safeguarding indigenous food traditions and associated cultural heritage. Recent ethnobotanical investigations in Mayurbhanj district have revealed exceptionally rich traditional knowledge associated with forest resources. Jena et al., (2025) documented extensive utilization of wild plant species by indigenous communities for food, medicine and livelihood support, emphasizing the continued dependence of tribal populations on forest biodiversity. The present study complements these findings by identifying host plant species that not only provide nesting substrates for O. smaragdina but also possess significant ethnobotanical value. Species such as Madhuca longifolia, Mangifera indica, Buchanania lanzan, Syzygium cumini, Artocarpus heterophyllus and Shorea robusta are simultaneously important for local livelihoods and for maintaining ant populations. This overlap suggests that conserving these multipurpose tree species would generate dual ecological and socio-economic benefits by supporting biodiversity while sustaining traditional food systems. The predominance of members of Anacardiaceae, Fabaceae and Moraceae as host plants observed in the present study is consistent with reports from other regions of India, where large-canopied tree species with flexible leaves provide favourable nesting conditions for O. smaragdina. Trees such as Mangifera indica, Lannea coromandelica, Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosa offer extensive branching patterns and interconnected canopies that facilitate colony expansion and long-term nest stability. Such structural characteristics are considered among the principal determinants of host plant selection by weaver ants and explain their repeated occurrence across different ecological landscapes. The study further highlights the importance of community participation in conserving Kurkuti habitats. Indigenous communities of Mayurbhanj have traditionally harvested red weaver ants without destroying colonies, allowing natural regeneration and recolonization. However, increasing deforestation, forest fragmentation, road expansion and unsustainable extraction of forest resources may reduce the abundance of suitable host plants, thereby threatening both ant populations and the associated traditional knowledge system. Similar concerns regarding habitat degradation and its influence on O. smaragdina distribution have been raised in recent ecological studies (Ma et al., 2025), emphasizing the necessity of habitat-based conservation approaches. From a conservation perspective, the present study provides one of the first comprehensive accounts of the ant–host plant relationship in Mayurbhanj district. While earlier investigations from the district primarily focused on the nutritional, medicinal and cultural importance of Kurkuti (Jena et al., 2020), this study establishes the ecological foundation underpinning its persistence. The results demonstrate that conservation strategies should move beyond species-level protection and incorporate habitat restoration, enrichment planting of preferred native host species, and community-led forest management. Such integrated approaches would not only ensure the long-term survival of O. smaragdina populations but also contribute to the conservation of indigenous traditional food systems, forest biodiversity and the biocultural heritage of Mayurbhanj district.

Conclusion

The present study clearly demonstrates that the sustainability of Oecophylla smaragdina as a traditional indigenous food resource is strongly dependent on the availability and diversity of its host plants. The present documentation in Mayurbhanj district highlights a rich and functionally diverse host plant assemblage that supports stable ant populations in both forested and semi-disturbed landscapes. The predominance of key arboreal families such as Anacardiaceae, Fabaceae and Moraceae further emphasizes the ecological importance of structurally suitable vegetation in maintaining ant colonies. The study also reveals that Kurkuti is not merely an ecological entity but an integral component of local cultural heritage, closely linked with indigenous knowledge systems and rural livelihoods. However, increasing habitat alteration, deforestation and fragmentation of native vegetation pose significant threats to both host plant diversity and ant populations. The observed dependence of O. smaragdina on specific tree species highlights the urgency of conserving native flora to ensure the continuity of this traditional food practice. Therefore, effective conservation of Kurkuti requires an integrated approach that combines habitat protection, promotion of native tree species through agroforestry and incorporation of indigenous knowledge into biodiversity management strategies. Strengthening community participation in conservation initiatives will be crucial for sustaining both ecological balance and cultural heritage. This study thus provides a scientific basis for linking host plant conservation with the long-term preservation of an important cultural food resource in the region.

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the HOD, Department of Life Sciences, Rama Devi Women’s University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Authors are also grateful to the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs), Baripada Forest Division, Rairangpur Forest Division and Karanjia Forest Division, Odisha, along with the local communities of the study areas. Authors are also thankful to Dr. Sanjeet Kumar for his help in the identification of the host plants of Red Weaver Ants and also to the team members of Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Odisha, India, for their huge support.

References

Exélis MP, Ramli R, Zakaria R, Idris AH, Ya’cob Z, Ibrahim RW, Yaakop S and Othman NW. (2025). The social organization of the Asian weaver ant colonies: a natural enemy novel sub-castes worker’s functional activity findings. PLoS One. 20(6): e0326030. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0326030

Ghosh S, Meyer-Rochow VB, Jung C. (2023). Embracing tradition: the vital role of traditional foods in achieving nutrition security. Foods. 12(23): 4220. doi: 10.3390/foods12234220

Jena N, Rout S, Mishra S and Kumar S.  (2025). Evaluation of quantitative ethnobotanical uses in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, India. Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation. 9(1): 1-29.

Jena S, Das SS and Sahu HK. (2020). Traditional value of Red Weaver Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) as food and medicine in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, India. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology. 8(5): 936-946.

Kumar S, Mishra AK, Kumar SN and Hansdah P. (2022a). Red Weaver Ants. Divisional Forest Officer, Bonai Forest Division, Odisha and Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Odisha, India.

Kumar S, Mishra S, Mishra AK and Kumar SN. (2022b). Floral Diversity of Koira & Barsuan Ranges of Bonai Forest Division, Odisha. Divisional Forest Officer, Bonai Forest Division, Odisha and Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Odisha, India.

Ma R, Zhang L, Yang L and He H. (2025). Potential distribution of the weaver ant Oecophylla under current and future climate. Pest Management Science. 81(9): 5324-5334.

Nayak S and Kumar S. (2023). Medicinal plants used by tribals of Odisha. State Medicinal Plants Board, Odisha and Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Odisha, India.

Offenberg J. (2021). Weaver Ants (Oecophylla). In: Starr CK (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Social Insects. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, Europe.

Patel D and Bhatt N. (2020). Nesting, protective and foraging behavior of Oecophylla smaragdina (Weaver Ants) in Anand, Gujarat. Advances in Zoology and Botany. 8(4): 351-357.

Rajagopal T, Singam P, Kulandaivel S, Selvarani S, Sevarkodiyone S and Ponmanickam P. (2019). Survey of red weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) and their host plants in urban and rural habitats of Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies. 7(1): 938-943.

Rout S, Rath SK, Kumbhar MM and Kumar S. (2025). Host plant diversity of Red Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) and their ecological link to the Indian Pangolin in Sundargarh, Odisha. Indian Forester. 151(10): 1005-1009.

Saxena HO and Brahmam M. (1994-1996). The Flora of Orissa, Volume I-IV. Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar and Orissa Forest Development Corporation Limited, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.