Weaving their way

by December 2, 2015 Environment
The next time you visit Lalbagh, keep an eye out for the weavers of the insect world. Here's a look at the fascinating world of weaver ants.

Wildlife surrounds us, and one doesn’t have to go anywhere except to the nearest patch of greenery to observe it.

Last week, I’d been to Lalbagh, and observed the wonder of the Weaver Ants . The scientific name for these ants (not that we need to bother much about it!) is Oecophylla.

Weaver ants, especially the worker ants, make their nests by creating an ‘ant-silk’… Workers construct nests by weaving together leaves using larvalsilk.

But this time, it was unusual to see the ants covering the fruit of the Soursop tree (Annona muricata) for their nests! Perhaps the ants were finding the fruit a ready source of nutrition.

Here is an ant-silk covered Soursop fruit. Pic: Deepa Mohan

Many studies have shown the efficacy of using weaver ants as natural biocontrol agents against agricultural pests. Apparently, fruits harbouring weaver ants produce better quality fruit!

A side view of the fruit with the nest. Pic: Deepa Mohan

A surprising fact is that weaver ants are one of the most valued types of insects eaten by humans. This is called entomophagy. In Northeastern Thailand, the price of weaver ant larvae is twice the price of good quality beef!

A frontal view of the fruit. Pic: Deepa Mohan

I also observed the behaviour that the Wiki entry talks about: “Oecophylla workers exhibit social carrying behavior as part of the recruitment process, in which one worker will carry another worker in its mandibles and transport it to a location requiring attention.”

A weaver ant carrying the body of another ant. Pic: Deepa Mohan

Now that’s really like our ferrying our plumbers or carpenters to our house sites, isn’t it?

I left the busy ants running around on their silken home, and left, musing on the wonders that are there to be seen in every place one looks!

Weaver ants at Lalbagh. Pic: Deepa Mohan

So, the next time you spot a weaver ants’ nest… maybe you could take it home for a crunchy snack… you can bite into it, if you don’t get bitten first!

Related Articles

From Shrieks to Smiles – about the good insects
Dragons in the air
Website architecture

Sections:

About Deepa Mohan

Deepa Mohan is a freelance writer and avid naturalist.
Read more by Deepa Mohan

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

Stop Hebbal Short Tunnel project: 20,000 residents and activists sign petition

by September 24, 2026 Environment
Citizens demand an immediate halt to Bengaluru's short tunnel project, citing ecological damage, flood risks and an absent EIA.

More than 1,000 trees to be cut. Close to 100 bird species and 400 plant species endangered. All this for a project that covers just about two kilometres and costs a whopping ₹1,140 crore. Residents and activists in Bengaluru have vehemently opposed the Karnataka government's Hebbal Short Tunnel project, launching a petition to halt construction immediately. Environmental activists and experts warn that the project threatens Bengaluru's cascading lake system and increases flooding risks. There is growing public concern that the tunnel will cut through one of North Bengaluru’s last major green-blue landscapes and cause lasting environmental damage. The petition, started…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Why concrete lakes are pushing away Bengaluru’s waterbirds

by , , , , and September 21, 2026 Environment
As natural shorelines vanish and extensive restoration destroys habitats, city lakes see a sharp decline in special wetland bird species.

Since Bengaluru’s lakes were formed by damming water flowing down valleys, they are typically wedge-shaped, with a gentle slope and a deep basin towards the embankment. This promotes the growth of diverse vegetation and animals, each adapted to a particular water depth. The result is a natural zonation – reedbeds and shoreline vegetation at the edges, floating and submerged vegetation in the middle, and open water at the deepest end. During the Open City biodiversity datajam held in December 2025, our group examined the ecological trends around Bengaluru’s lakes. In an earlier article, we examined how migrant and resident waterbirds…

Continue reading