Productive Characteristics, Nesting Substrates, and Colonies of the Escamolera Ant (Liometopum apiculatum M.) in Zacatecas, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to connect measurements, weights, and production of escamoles with nesting substrates, foraging paths, nest types, and colony sizes of the escamolera ant. Design/Methodology/Approach: The data about nests, colonies, and larvae were gathered during morning and evening field walks, with the support of escamoles harvesters. The basic statistics of the data were estimated (N = 59 nests/colonies) and analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis H test. In addition, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the differences per nest type. Results: The highest production of escamoles was recorded in the Prosopis laevigata substrate (x=551.08 g/N=1), while the lowest production was recorded in the Echinocereus stramineus substrate (x=228.31 g/N=4). The length and width of the larvae (N=1,100 larvae) were similar in all the substrates. The weight of the larvae varied from 0.09 g, in the Prosopis levigata substrate, to 0.16 g, in the dry palm (Yucca spp.) substrate; therefore, 11,111 and 6,250 larvae are required, respectively, to obtain 1 kg of escamoles. Study Limitations/Implications: The information of this study is limited to a single harvesting region. Findings/Conclusions: The low escamoles production indicates that its harvesting must comply with a regulatory framework and a better organization, in order to guarantee the continuous presence of Liometopum apiculatum colonies.