When discussing survival scenarios, especially long-term scenarios or those where you’re trapped in the course of the wild, the subject of food hunting comes up often, and for obvious reasons.
But this discussion normally misses a bit game, and I’m talking Really particularly a small game: insects.
While eating insects is nothing recent in human history, the concept remains to be largely foreign to many Westerners, nevertheless it is something it is best to consider as many species of insects are very nutritious and more importantly very, very easy for us to catch.
Ants are among the many humblest and at the identical time probably the most quite a few insects on the globe. So are you able to eat ants to survive?
Yes, you’ll be able to survive by eating ants. Although small, ants contain numerous protein and a big choice of vitamins and minerals. However, you have to to catch a number of of them to arrange a considerable portion of food.
Believe it or not, eating ants as a selected food source is nothing recent in numerous cultures all over the world.
Considered a source of food, they really have quite a bit to supply, however the logistics of catching enough ants to make an actual meal out of them is a complication.
Later in this text, I’ll talk in regards to the good, bad and ugly things about eating ants in a survival situation.
What do ants taste like?
I assume we must always address the elephant within the room before continuing. What do ants taste like?
If you’ve got never eaten insects before, you almost certainly find it hard to assume that they taste anything apart from pure, distilled an abomination.
I’m blissful to report that the fact is a bit different and it relies on whether you eat the ants raw or cooked, and likewise on the species of ant in query.
Ants are frequently described as having a taste starting from citrus to sour and every little thing in between.
Some people say the ants have a pleasing tart or vinegar-like taste, while others describe them as tasting almost like lemon or lime.
That’s all assuming you are also eating them raw: once they’re cooked, normally by pan-frying or slow-cooking near a fireplace, they will not taste as sour.
Another thing to contemplate is that you may eat greater than just adult ants. The tiny larvae, the ant cubs, are stored deep and secure of their nests, that are in regards to the same size and consistency as a grain of rice.
These larval forms are said to have a rather oily, almost nutty flavor that is simple to get used to.
In any case, you’ll be able to do quite a bit worse than eating ants in relation to taste, especially in comparison with another insects, they usually do a superb job of cooking and seasoning if you will have the time, ingredients, or each.
Are ants nutritious?
Yes they’re! This is definitely the unique advantage of ants as food, along with their abundance and straightforward availability.
First, it is important to grasp the dietary profile of individual ants to be able to make an informed comparison.
Although they’re small, ants are extremely powerful insects, which suggests they contain a ton of protein as a percentage of their total weight.
This protein can assist you survive in the long term, assuming you catch enough ants.
Moreover, they’ve many other nutrients along with this, including a superb complement of vitamins and minerals (akin to iron and calcium), carbohydrates and even some fat. The tiny larvae are nutritionally very similar and contain much more fat than the adults.
Whatever the case and regardless of the species, ants are definitely value your time nutritionally, assuming you’ll be able to harvest enough of them.
Can they be eaten safely?
In general, eating ants is secure, although as you would possibly expect, there are a number of things to consider before you begin catching them.
Many species of ants are capable of defend themselves using poisonous stingers, noxious excretions from the front or rear suggestions, or just powerful mechanical jaws that may hurt you and even get stuck in your throat.
If you only start collecting an unknown species of ants willy-nilly, it’s possible you’ll be at a extremely bad time as their stings can add up quickly.
Although the overwhelming majority of ant species have stings that will not be medically significant, in case you accumulate enough of them, it could cause a foul response and it’s possible you’ll not have the ability to rule out a direct allergic response to even a single sting.
Several ant species, akin to the infamous bulletproof ant and fire ant, have powerful stings that may leave everlasting damage.
It will not be value collecting ants like these as it is going to take much more work to gather them safely after which send them to cook before they could be eaten.
If you occur to be surrounded, it’s possible you’ll be coping with a medical emergency in an already bad situation.
In all cases, in case you are collecting ants that will pose a threat, watch out: thoroughly cook particularly poisonous ants to assist neutralize their venom, and consider pinching the top of any ant that has essentially large jaws before eating.
Should you cook ants or eat them raw?
If you will have time and opportunity, cook the caught ants. This will improve the taste, kill the ants, and eliminate any germs and parasites they could carry.
Now it must be noted that almost all species of ants could be eaten alive with little difficulty.
Yes, I understand it sounds terrible, but I’m telling you, it’s possible if you’re in a difficult situation.
Most ants are too small to be a serious threat, even when eaten live; just watch out to chew them to send them.
However, in case you decide to cook them, you should watch out to not burn them, lose them, or otherwise waste your catch. Easier said than done when working with smaller species!
What is one of the best approach to catch many ants?
Catching ants is simple in theory, but sometimes difficult in practice. They’re small, swarming, and surprisingly responsive, which suggests catching and stopping them could be quite difficult.
An excellent strategy is to attempt to lure them right into a trap using a bottle, jar or other escape-proof container with a lid.
Alternatively, all you should do is keep your eyes peeled as you progress all over the world in quest of signs of their nest, whether above or below ground. They are almost all the time easy to identify.
Even ant nests which can be completely underground normally have small funnel-shaped mounds near the entrances, or the ants are eliminating their detritus, and you’ll be able to rarely miss the “conga line” of ants getting into and out.
Once you will have found a nest, only dig it with the tool it is best to have readily available, not along with your bare hands.
Otherwise, you risk exposing large concentrations of larvae and adults without mixing them with the soil and losing them. Then try to choose them up or scrape them off with a leaf or other flat object.
Be careful: they may not appreciate this intrusion and destruction of their home and can retaliate.
It may take a while to collect a lot of them, but I can promise you that they’re there in abundance: ants are amongst probably the most successful insects on Earth!
Ants could be a fantastic basis for survival
After reading all of this, it could seem that ants are simply not worthwhile as a food source, but I can assure you that they will not be.
Not only are ants highly nutritious and really easy to catch in comparison with larger game animals, but they could be found literally all over the place on the earth except on the poles.
Therefore, by becoming conversant in the ant species in your area, you’ll all the time have a simple time tracking them down.
Learning the right way to get probably the most out of those little insects could make the difference between life and death if you’re desperate for food in a survival situation.
