Cultural aspects of ants, bees and wasps, and their products in sub-Saharan Africa

AbstractThis study’s purpose was to make an overview of how ants, bees, wasps, and their products, such as honey are utilized, perceived, and experienced in daily life across sub-Saharan Africa. Ethno-entomological information was collected by interviews with more than 300 people from 27 countries and by literature studies. Queens of the antCarebara viduaare deliberately eaten and unintentionally bee larvae with honey and sugar ants with sugar. Honey, apart from food, is widely used to treat numerous medical problems and as a stimulant (for the memory) or as a cosmetic. In the Qur’an, the medical value of honey is recognized. Seed stores of ants may be harvested by humans. In Sudan, bee stings are used to cure arthritis as bee venom has bioactive properties. Wasp nests are used to cure inflammations such as mumps. Certain insect properties are used in conveying these treatments to persons it is employed to, such as wasps feed do make dogs vicious. Some stories seem to make no sense like the snake-trapping ants in Madagascar, but a scientific explanation is provided. Certain insects’ looks may inspire people to construct stories or have proverbs such as the very narrow waist of wasps, suggesting sterility. Bee swarms and driver ants are feared all over and believed to be employed (by witchdoctors) to punish. Not all stories of events with bees or ants are similar across sub-Saharan Africa. Social insects are also used to stimulate cohesion between people.