Monthly Archives: May 2012

Survivalist Tip: Ants are another type of insect that can be consumed as a last minute food source.  Like most insects, ants are low in fat and high in protein.  And since there are usually thousands of them at any one time, you don’t have to worry about not getting enough in a single serving.  Just toss them into a pan with some butter and your favorite seasoning and roast them.  There are 4 species of ants that are edible: carpenter, leaf-cutter, honey pot and lemon.

• Carpenter ants are perhaps the most common of the ant species, since they’re indigenous to many parts of the world.  They are distinguishable because they are solid black and have a fetish for wood.  Many people confuse them with termites, which also have a taste for wood.  But, carpenter ants – as the name implies – don’t really eat the wood; they just hollow it out to make nests.  Nonetheless, they’re perfectly edible and since they already could be in your house, you won’t have to hunt for them.
• Honey pot ants have abdomens swollen with a nectar-like substance that literally tastes like honey.  They are indigenous to Australia and have been a staple of that continent’s Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years.  The first Caucasians in Australia scoffed at the idea of consuming any kind of insect and considered it beneath them – until they ended up stranded in the Australian desert without any deer or sheep.
• Leaf cutter ants are eaten mainly in South America and are said to have a taste somewhere between bacon and pistachio nuts.  Therefore, think of a BLT sandwich or a rum drink while consuming them.
• Lemon ants are found in the Amazon jungle and supposedly have a taste that befits their name.  Indigenous Amazonians have consumed them for thousands of years; it’s pretty much what kept them alive after fleeing into the jungle when Europeans arrived.

There’s another species of ant you definitely don’t want to consume: fire ants.  These are easily identifiable because of their bright red color.  But, they’re very aggressive and can sting like a wasp.  Eating them will only give you heartburn – and that’s something you don’t need in the midst of the apocalyptic chaos.

Survivalist Tip: In continuing with my entomological diet, I want to add grasshoppers to the list.  As with worms, people around the world consume grasshoppers on a regular basis.  And, like worms, these insects are a good source of protein.  They’re easy to catch and even easier to cook.  They’re normally roasted over an open fire, but you can also sauté them in mushroom sauce or with spices such as salt and garlic.  You can even dip them in chocolate.  There’s only one thing  you need to remember: make sure they’re dead first.  You never know what’s in a grasshopper’s insides, but cooking them will ensure you don’t get sick.  If you’re already getting sick, just hope you can remain at home and live off your normal food products when the apocalypse hits.