File talk:Ants Eggs Market Thailand.jpg
I don't think that this picture depicts ant eggs. While the leaf in the top right could carry eggs, and the two in the top left could contain alates, or perhaps some other insects, the rest most likely contain larvae or pupae. I'm not too sure though. Perhaps someone more experienced could pass judgment? (P.S. does anyone know what leaves are those?) BeefRendang (talk) 11:10, 17 April 2008 (UTC)
- I think you are correct, that these are not eggs. These actually look like ant larvae, not eggs. Some appear have turned to pupa, particularly the front left most leaf full (clearer when looking at the image on maximum resolution). It seems that these are 'marketed' as ant eggs but are larvae. I found a few non-free images on the internet that match these images. GameKeeper (talk) 22:04, 10 June 2008 (UTC)
- http://laocuisine.la/2007/02/
- http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/76710238
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/recom273/404462823/
I am the photographer of this image http://www.flickr.com/photos/recom273/404462823/ on flickr.
Im not actually an expert on ants, but i do speak Thai. You are correct, they are not ants eggs, they are pupae.
They are called "khai Mot Deng" Khai=Egg Mot=Ant Deng=Red .. Red Ant Egg, usually used in Eastern & Northern Thai dishes.
They are sold in several different forms, either fresh in (as far as i can tell) a Mullberry leaf, they can be eaten fresh but are often served steamed in a Bananna leaf packet, with lemon grass and Shalott or as part of a watery curry, with a herb. I wouldnt say they were a delicacy, just everyday food.
I am unsure of the brown ones, maybe these are more mature pupae or maybe stir-fried.
They are collected by pickers who climb trees to get to the nests and get stung and bitten by guard ants ( I have done it, its not too pleasant)
Taste wise they are nothing special, they have maybe a mild tart taste as the liquid in the abdomen is released as they are chewed .. Cost fresh about 10B/UK 15p/US 30c in the villages, but there seem to be rather a lot in each of the parcels here, maybe double or triple the prices.
