Aku as called in Igbo native language or Alate is social insect that burrows and live underground, according Oxford dictionary, Alate is a winged reproductive form of several insect. They are well organized in the sense that within them is a division of labour. There family comprises of the King, the Queen, the Workers, the Soldiers and the Alate which in later run turn to king and queen in their colony.
Social function of the aforementioned insect
As mentioned earlier, Aku is a social insect that live in an organized and harmonious lifestyle. They lives based on the division of labor, each and every type as classified above has a specific role to play. Just as in a family the fathers role is to provide for the family, the mother prepares meal for the family and take care of the kids and the children takes care of the house chores, think about Aku.
The queen and king are specialized in reproduction, they don’t do form any of work other than reproduction. They receive protection from the soldiers and are fed by the workers. They are the biggest among all the families.
The Soldiers are the ones that offer protection the all the families, the check the in and out of every members of the family, they decide when to let the Alate fly out of the colony and when not to. And attack any form of predator that invades the colony.
The workers are responsible for all of work in the colony, things like: building and maintaining the colony, looking after the Queen and providing food/meal for the family.
Economic importance of Aku/Alate
It’s a edible and source of protein
It’s a source of money revenue, Aku could be sold in the market since it’s edible .
It enhances waste decay, due to the activities of burrowing the this social insect helps in decomposition of waste product which turn to manure to the soil.
##Reference
Also refer to: Iwedi Ojinmah