Many Dying, Once Flying Ants?

Outside this morning, around our house in Ajijic Centro, we have found several dozen up to 2 cm flying ants crawling in circles--drunken-like--in our patio and breezeway. Many have already shed their wings. Most appear on their way to ant heaven, a destination we are encouraging with squirts of soapy water.

What's going on here? Is it a seasonal thing? Are these carpenter ants? Will they cause damage? Should we be concerned? 

Yes, it is a seasonal thing. They appear for 2 or 3 days every year right after the rains start. They are not carpenter ants. I hear some locals like to eat them. Supposed to be quite tasty......

tombo wrote:Outside this morning, around our house in Ajijic Centro, we have found several dozen up to 2 cm flying ants crawling in circles--drunken-like--in our patio and breezeway. Many have already shed their wings. Most appear on their way to ant heaven, a destination we are encouraging with squirts of soapy water.

What's going on here? Is it a seasonal thing? Are these carpenter ants? Will they cause damage? Should we be concerned? 

lololol

Tombo has been blessed with manna from heaven. Just go light on the oil and fry until crispy.

I can't imagine any other way than batterterd and fried. There's a crisp sound when you get one under your foot. So frying is the only to go. No wings that would be disgusting!

Best eaten live as they lose a lot of their nutrition when cooked.

slainte39 wrote:Best eaten live as they lose a lot of their nutrition when cooked.

I make a puree and apply liberally to my face before bed. Keeps me looking younger. No more expensive salves for me!

I make a puree and apply liberally to my face before bed. Keeps me looking younger. No more expensive salves for me![/quote]

I bet you...err...we could make a killing if we bottled it up In nice shiny bottle. Witty title and creative description on the jar.

Bajabrady wrote:

I make a puree and apply liberally to my face before bed. Keeps me looking younger. No more expensive salves for me!

I bet you...err...we could make a killing if we bottled it up In nice shiny bottle. Witty title and creative description on the jar.[/quote]


Use the words exotic and essential in the text and I'm sure it would fly off the shelves. ...at the very least it would fly better than the ants do.

Funny how you never see them except when they're dying, at least I haven't.

I'd recommend a nice Panko breading for a light, but crunchy and non-greasy, tempura style dish.

They live underground most of the year and come out with the rains to fly, mate, lay eggs and die. I think the birds have a feast on dead ants.

When I was young many years ago and travelling around Mexico with a friend from Michoacán, I was introduced to the hormigas volantes as food, somewhere down south.  He was the one who told me that they were best eaten "en vivo" but I had to learn to chew and swallow with my mouth shut as they are annoying when crawling on your face....and they do try to escape even as slow as they are.

Poor insects. Best known by their life cycle of flying, dying, frying.

slainte39 wrote:When I was young many years ago and travelling around Mexico with a friend from Michoacán, I was introduced to the hormigas volantes as food, somewhere down south.  He was the one who told me that they were best eaten "en vivo" but I had to learn to chew and swallow with my mouth shut as they are annoying when crawling on your face....and they do try to escape even as slow as they are.

GAAAHHH gag.

Mil gracias to all who have responded and enlightened me. Our maid just showed my wife how to "field dress" one of these tasty hormigas: remove wings, legs and antennae, lightly oil and quickly fry. Will report back.

Bien provecho!!!!

You're a bigger man than I.

Thank you for eating the ants so I don't have to. I look forward to your review.

I have tried the dried grasshoppers. Tasted like grass clippings.........

Not chicken?? :-)