Asian weaver ant
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 Asian weaver ant、red ant
This word refers to the reddish-brown weaver ant that builds nests by joining leaves in trees. Its bite is painful, and its eggs are also known as a seasonal food in Thailand.
Asian weaver ant、red ant
A reddish-brown ant that nests in trees; in Thai, the term usually refers specifically to the Asian weaver ant.
Learning notes
Explanation
มดแดง combines มด, “ant,” and แดง, “red.” Although it literally means “red ant,” in Thailand it normally refers to the Asian weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina), which joins leaves together to make nests in trees. These ants are aggressive and may bite when their nest or tree is disturbed. The usual classifier is ตัว, as in มดแดงหนึ่งตัว, “one weaver ant.” ไข่มดแดง, “weaver ant eggs,” is a well-known seasonal ingredient, especially in northeastern Thai cuisine.
Usage
It is commonly used when talking about ants and their nests in gardens, orchards, or forests. Frequent combinations include มดแดงกัด, “weaver ants bite,” and รังมดแดง, “a weaver ant nest.” The term ไข่มดแดง often appears in markets and discussions of Thai food and regional cuisine.
Caution
มดแดง usually names the weaver ant rather than every ant that happens to be red. Do not automatically equate it with มดไฟ, “fire ant.” Also, food sold as ไข่มดแดง may include larvae or pupae as well as eggs.