Collecting Red Ant Eggs to Eat in Thailand

[Jaboie]

Ants trying to protect their young? Hmmm... why would they try to do that? Guess American Idol isn't on loud enough in their nest.

[iPeem]

dam i never eat that.. im thai too..

[JunyaYashiki]

Machete -> branch -> bag/Bucket. Done :D

[EatTheWeeds]

Put bag on nest, secure, then snip branch. Put everything into a freezer or cooler quickly.

[DawgcityClev]

the idea of attacking a red ant nest to steal and eat their eggs is insanity, let alone the aftermath of this putrid idea of ATTEMPTING IT! Are you people from Andromeda or something? What freaking human does this shit? lololol

[Karletto555]

Careful with this. If you are alergic to wasp and bee sting, ant sting will also make a reaction.

[mabilarg]

why dont u get scissors, cover the nest with the bag, grab on the the branches while grabbing the bag at the same time than cut the braches

[bellahorse151]

i've found a whole plant pot full of ant eggs and then there were the ants but as soon as i pick the pot up the took the ant eggs in their mouth and ran away, i saw eggs, but no queen could it be close?

[cusanusnicolas]

I've seen a team of red ants dragging a dog turd up a wall, not to turn your stomach. I see the bee/wasp larvae in the markets and can't stand the thought of eating them, but maybe I'll try some ant eggs some day. These aren't the same red ants I see around here, though, they're much bigger and they really hurt when they bite. I've seen a 30' single file caravan of a black variety, wonderful wildlife here in Thailand.

[MDIS]

From what i have seen and experienced in Laos , it is better for you to use stainless steel metal clippers held in one hand whilst the other hand holds the plastic bag open for the nest to fall in.

And bring the white body talcum powder , that does help with any itch or bite.

In Laos - they would do it as quickly as possible.

Those ants really bite you hard and frequently.

[vexun11]

you have balls doing that! I would freak if I had fire ants on me! does it feel like a pinch when they bit you?

[xDhappy7]

What you put yourself through just to get your hands on some eggs. brave you.

[williamwzl]

Imagine the places the ants could get to if he was wearing the skirt.

[7spear]

Dang, you didn't zoom in on the eggs!

[thaipulsedotcom]

@7spear Didn't I take a picture of them though and splice it into the video? I thought so... maybe not. Check out the baby eating her first ant eggs video - it's there for sure.

[thaipulsedotcom]

It was a lot of work for the tiny amount of eggs I got. When I bought them and ate them with my soup in Isaan - the lady had a BIG bag of them and the eggs were 4 times as big as these.

The ants bite, not sting - and they don't have a poison like the red ants from South America that most countries have (and Thailand has those too).

[megael0]

they are sacapping!

[DAVIDpwnsN00bz]

"There's literally like a million of 'em." haha

[Teknologicle]

When I was in Laos there were red ants about 1.5cm that had curved mandibles about 0.5cm long. Let's just say it hurts when they bite.

[thaipulsedotcom]

@Teknologicle nice... that's why I'm in Thailand. I hate anything that bites.

[darkestraven69]

i would have been scared of getting bit xD I think i would try bagging it then cutting the branch out of fear of it dropping on me lol

[thaipulsedotcom]

@darkestraven69 that's also a good idea - but I won't be doing this anymore... there is however a MASSIVE ant nest at a temple nearby. It's about 20 inches long and maybe 1 foot in height... naaah... I'm done, really.

[dadluvsu]

save yourself a lot of trouble by having your wife find someone in the market who sells ant eggs. They are very inexpensive and can be used for salads or omelets or whatever your heart desires. What are you trying to prove by getting them yourself and getting bitten?

[09vl1603]

@dadluvsu That he's a man!

[thaipulsedotcom]

@dadluvsu there aren't any here. I've looked. The market here is lame (Trang). In the northeast insects are eaten daily. In the south - not that much. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it after failing about 3 times. This nest was in a very easy location and still - the ants jump off the tree into the grass to find whomever is messing with the nest. Weaver ants - very smart ants.

[MDIS]

@thaipulsedotcom

You are in Trang Thailand?

Hahaha . . . beautiful.

[sazji]

@dadluvsu Well, it does give you a newfound appreciation for people who do it for a living! And me too, I had no idea it was such a hassle! (Though I'd wager the pros have better methods and/or take the bits as just part of the job...)

[BennyBenedikt]

that was a lot of work for some tiny eggs :/

[thaipulsedotcom]

@BennyBenedikt way too many bites for that...

[sazji]

I think you need to get yourself a pair of sharp clippers; that will disturb them less than a saw and you'll get the job done much more quickly!

Are they stinging ants or do they just bite?

[thaipulsedotcom]

@sazji yes, that would work MUCH better than a saw! they bite - not sting. No real venom in the jaws - or at least doesn't affect me.

[hijimi963]

insect repellent? :P

[thaipulsedotcom]

@hijimi963 That's an idea... but I don't wear that stuff unless I go into the jungle where the mosquitos are nuts. I never thought of using it for ants... anyway, my ant egg collecting days are over!