Edible Insects: Ants

Today Emily and I went for a short hike through the Molalla river corridor in search of whatever we came across. One thing on the list was ants...for eating. After a short time we came across an ant hill swarming with little black and red ants. Later, after doing some research, I believed the ants to be either Formica Integroides or Formica Obscuripes, both of the group Rufa. Both species display similar physical characteristics and both lack the painful bite of the common fire ant. Also, both species prefer open wooded areas and construct large colonies, the entrances of which are distinct thatch mounds. I have yet to make a definite identification of the ants collected.

Identification:
Both f. obsuripes and f. ingegroides are easily located by their distinctive mounds, found in wooded areas and commonly made of coniferous needles and subterranean dirt which the ants move to the surface as chambers and passageways are constructed below ground. Mounds are commonly 2-3 feet in diameter and roughly the same height. They are roughly 1/2-5/8 inch in length, with a black or dark brown abdomen and red thorax and head. Though characterized as being "aggressive" ants, their bite is only mildly irritating. Even so, it is advisable to exercise caution when handling, as many bites may cause a considerable amount of discomfort.






























Time Of Year:
The best time of year to collect both species is late-winter or early-spring. In late spring on through the warmer summer months, many adult species of ant develop wings to carry out "mating flights" to establish new colonies. The ants are edible with wings, though I would imagine they may not be as pleasant to eat and there would be a great deal of work involved in removing the wings.

Location:
These ants are ubiquitous to the forested temperate climate zones of the Pacific northwest. Heavier populations are found in the northwestern parts of Oregon and western Washington.

Collection:
Both f. obscuripes and f. integroides are considered to be "active" and "aggressive", but more ants will be active on the surface of their mound in warmer temperatures, or when in direct sunlight in the cooler months of late winter and early spring. If you come across a mound with little or no visible activity, it may be an old mound no longer in use, or it may be that the mound is in a cooler, shady area. If that's the case, simply locate a mound in a sunny area.

To collect the ants, use a small stick or grass stalk. Place the stick on the mound and let the ants swarm over it. Then, just put the ant-covered end of the stick in a jar and shake them off, or eat them directly off the stick. I found that using two or three grass stalks produced a greater number of ants and made collecting them a bit easier. I also found it helpful to gently brush the stalks over the ants. Brushing caused the ants to clump into a ball which would either hang onto the stalks or could be scooped into the jar easier and in greater number than with one single stick or stalk.

It is neither productive nor necessary to destroy a mound to search for ants. If you come across a mound with little or no activity, pass it by and locate another. Ants play an important role in the ecology of the environments in which they live. Under no circumstances is it necessary to destroy or damage a mound for any reason.

Taste:
I do not know about other similar species of ant, these are not unpleasant to eat, and produce a tart, acidic, almost lemon-like flavor when eaten.

Preparation:
To prepare the ants you may want first freeze them for a few minutes to slow them down, then spread them on a flat surface and remove any debris that you may have collected with the ants. Ants are great raw, but if you wish to cook them, do so by baking for a short period on low heat or cooking quickly in a dry pan. Then, put them in or on whatever foods you so desire. Emily and I thought to try them as sprinkles on chocolate cupcakes with cherry frosting. The tartness of the ants complimented sweetness of the cherry frosting rather well, and the cupcakes were delicious.

Precaution:
As with other wild edibles such as plants and fungi, it is important to correctly identify ants and other insects before eating them. Some ants, such as Pharaoh Ants, prefer blood plasma and therefore will collect rotting meat, blood, and sometimes feces from dying and dead animals to feed their colonies, and may carry diseases and parasites. It's much easier to take a little time to correctly identify your food BEFORE eating it, rather than spending a long time being sick and being sure you ate the wrong thing.

See Also: FM 21-76