Context: Red Ant Chutney, locally known as Kai Chutney made by tribal people in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district has received Geographical Indication Tag in January, 2024.
About Kai Chutney
- Kai Chutney is made with red weaver ants in Simlipal Tiger reserve by tribal's in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
- The chutney has healing properties, boosts immunity, ensures nutritional security of the tribal people. Red Weaver Ants contain valuable proteins, calcium, zinc, vitamin B12, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, amino acids etc.
- Red Weaver Ants are locally known as Kai Pimpudi in the region.
About Red Weaver Ants
- Red Weaver ants form colonies with multiple nests in trees.
- Each nest is made of leaves stitched together with silk produced by their larvae.
- They reside in trees like mango, sal, jambu and jackfruit.
- Red Weaver Ants consist of three categories of ants - Workers, Major Workers and Queens.
- Workers and Major workers are mostly orange coloured with a size of 5-6 mm for workers and 8-10 mm for major workers with strong legs and large mandibles.
- Queens are larger in size with 20-25 mm and green-brown colour.
- They feed on small insects and other invertebrates like beetles, flies and hymenopterans. They do not sting but have a painful bite into which they can secrete irritant chemicals from their abdomens.
Read also: Similipal Tiger Reserve