Ant schnapps for health and pleasure: the use of Formica rufa L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) to flavour aquavit.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The relationship between humans and insects goes long back and is important. Insects provide a multitude of ecosystem services for humans, e g. by pollinating crops and decomposing matter. Our current knowledge about the cultural ecosystem services that insects provide is limited and not much examined.

Method

Scattered ethnographical descriptions and folklore records from pre-modern Sweden and other Scandinavian countries give us insights into local knowledge and use of insects among the peasantry in various parts of the country. These data have been analysed and critically reviewed. Source pluralism has been used as a method.

Results

The mound-building red wood ant, Formica rufa L., is one of the species that were used in Sweden for their healing propertie

SUBMITTER: Svanberg I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6921441 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature