Hunting for food is often mentioned in survival situations, particularly those that are long-term or involve being trapped out in the wilderness. This makes sense.
This discussion usually overlooks the small game. I am referring to insects.
eating insect has been around for a long time, yet it is a concept that is foreign to most westerners. However, many insects are very nutritious, and, more importantly, they’re easy to capture.
Ants are among the most abundant and humblest insects in the world. Can you survive by eating ants?
You can live off ants. Ants are a great source of vitamin and mineral combinations and protein. You’ll need to capture a lot of them to get a large amount of food.
It’s not a new thing for cultures to eat ants.As a food source, they are actually quite good. However, catching them in sufficient numbers to prepare a meal is difficult.
In the remainder of this article, I will tell you the good, bad and ugly about eating ants as a means of survival.
What do Ants taste like?
Before we continue, I think we’d better address the elephant that is in the room. What do ants look like?
It’s hard to imagine that insects taste like anything other than pure, distilled disgust.
It depends on the type of ant, whether you eat it raw or cooked.
The taste of ants is described by many as ranging from citrusy, to sour and even everything in-between.
Others describe ants as having a tangy or vinegary taste. Some even say they have the flavor of a lime or lemon.
If you’re eating them raw too, they will taste sour. However, if they’re cooked (usually by slow roasting or pan-frying), they will not be as sour.
You can also eat ants other than the adult ones. The nests contain tiny ant larvae, which are the size of a rice grain.
The larvae are described as having a sweet, nutty flavor that’s easy to adapt to.
If you’re short on time or ingredients, you could do worse than eat ants. They are also a great addition to any meal.
Are Ants Nutritious?
They are. Ants are a great source of food.To make an educated comparison, you must first understand the nutrition profile of each individual ant.
Ants are powerful, even though they’re tiny. They contain an incredible amount of protein in relation to their mass.
If you catch enough ants, this protein will keep you energized for a long time.
They also contain a variety of nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals (like calcium and iron), carbohydrates and some fat. Nutritionally, the tiny larvae have a similar composition to adults and even contain more fat.
If you collect enough ants, it is worth the effort to eat them.
Can I eat them?
As you would expect, there are some precautions you should take before attempting to catch ants.
Many species of ants are capable of self-defense, whether it’s through venomous bites or noxious glands on their fore or rear ends, or by using powerful mechanical jaws which could cause injury or get caught in the throat.
You could end up in a bad situation if you start picking up ants without knowing what species they are. Their stings add up fast.
Even though the stings of most ant species are not harmful, they can cause a reaction if enough stings accumulate. You may be unable to exclude an allergic reaction from a single sting.
Some species of ants can cause serious injury, such as the bullet ant or the fire ant.
These ants are not worth collecting because it will take more effort to safely collect them and to cook them before eating them.
You could be in a bad situation if you get swarmed.If you collect ants which could be dangerous, always take care. Cook venomous ones thoroughly to neutralize the venom. Also, pinch off any large-jawed ants before eating.
Do you cook ants or eat them raw?
Cook the ants you’ve caught if you can. It will enhance the taste, eliminate the parasites, and kill the ants.
It should now be noted that the majority of species of Ants are easily able to be eaten live.
It is indeed possible to do this when in dire straits.Even when eaten alive, most ants do not pose a significant threat. Just make sure to chew the ants to get rid of them.
You’ll want to be careful not to burn, destroy, or waste them if you decide to cook your fish. It’s easier said than done to work with smaller species.
What is the best way to catch a lot of ants?
In theory, catching ants can be easy. However, in reality it is not always that simple. It is difficult to catch and restrain them because they are small, swarm and are quick.
You can use a jar, bottle or other container that is not able to escape.You can also keep an eye out for their nests, whether they are above ground or underground, as you move around. It is almost always very easy to find them.
You will often see “conga lines” of ants entering and leaving nests, even if they are completely underground.
If you find one, dig it out with the tool that you have on hand and never with your hands.
You risk losing large numbers of adults and larvae if you don’t mix them in the soil. You can then try and scrape or collect the larvae or adults using a flat leaf.
Be careful: They will not be happy about this invasion and the destruction to their home and they may retaliate.
You might have to wait a little while before you can collect enough, but they’re out there! Ants are some of the most prolific insects in existence.
An ant can be a great survival staple
You might think that eating ants is not worthwhile, but that’s just not true.Ants are not only highly nutritious, but also easy to capture compared to other larger animals. They can literally be found anywhere on the planet except for the poles.
By becoming familiar with ant species, you can easily track them.
When you’re in desperate need of food, learning how to get the best out of these insects can mean the difference between your life and death.