Title: Multiple sources of local knowledge: a global review of ways to reduce nuisance from the beneficial weaver ant Oecophylla

Authors: Paul Van Mele, Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc, Zuberi Seguni, Koumandian Camara, Joachim Offenberg

Addresses: Africa Rice Center (WARDA), 01 BP 2031, Cotonou, Benin. ' College of Agriculture, Cantho University, Can Tho, Vietnam. ' Agricultural Research Institute Mikocheni (MARI), P.O. Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. ' Centre de Recherche Agronomique de Foulaya, Institut de Recherche Agronomique de Guinea (IRAG), Foulaya, Guinea. ' Center for Tropical Ecosystem Research, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Abstract: The weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina and O. longinoda are abundant in tropical Asia, Australia and Africa. Although local people and a handful of scientists appreciate the benefits these tree-dwelling ants bring in terms of medicinal and food source, protection of tree crops, and enhancement of fruit and nut quality, Oecophylla has one major drawback: it also bites people. Perception of this nuisance, and the response to it, is influenced by the frequency of encounters and the perceived benefits gained from Oecophylla. We used a range of methods in more than ten countries to document how people reduce weaver ant nuisance, including interactive rural radio programs. Apart from growers, also ant brood collectors, fruit-pickers and intermediaries in the value chain hold in-depth ecological knowledge on weaver ants. Ways to make Oecophylla more widely accepted and build ecological literacy at various levels of the society are discussed.

Keywords: Oecophylla; local knowledge; learning; communication; ecological literacy; agricultural resources; governance; weaver ants; weaver ant nuisance; nuisance reduction; rural radio; interactive radio.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2009.032646

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2009 Vol.8 No.5/6, pp.484 - 504

Received: 21 Jun 2008
Accepted: 02 Jul 2009
Published online: 09 Apr 2010 *

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