What Are Chocolate-Covered Ants And Who Eats Them?

Pests are pesky creatures that most people want to eradicate when they infest their homes or their gardens. Asides from being sore to our eyes,  the main reasons for eliminating them are because they carry bacteria and diseases that they transmit to humans and other animals, and they can damage property, making them a nuisance. So the question is how to get rid of ants in plant pots or to your home to avoid bigger problems. Surprisingly, one way to eliminate them is by eating them? In this we’ll tackle ants as food, their benefits, and how to eat them.  

Pests As Foods

Entomophagy or eating pests, like insects, are commonly eaten from different parts of the world. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed certain insects and parts of them to be included in food processing in the United States. The reason for this is that it was hard to eliminate all kinds of pests. Additionally, there was a restaurant and bar back in the 1990s that was established. The already-closed restaurant and bar served food that included crickets and mealworms in the recipes. They eat pests because they contain protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Commonly eaten pests are crickets, grasshoppers, termites, bees, ants, beetles, mealworms, flies, caterpillars, and bugs. But today, we are going to talk about ants as food.

Benefits Of Eating Ants

Ants are social insects that are also common pests that can infest an area, even in home or garden.  These little creatures can be beneficial to your house, especially to your garden, and surprisingly to your health too. When it comes to your garden, ants can loosen up the soil of your plants and increase water and air. Additionally, they can carry plants, and animal remains to your soil, resulting in fertilized soil. Moreover, they are natural leading predators of other insects; thus, they can help maintain a low pests population within your area. Now when you decide to eliminate and eat them, you might also get health benefits. They contain high protein and antioxidants that can support your heart’s health. 

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Chocolate-Covered Ants

Now you know what benefits you can get from eating ants; you may eat them as plain as it is or try to give them a twist – chocolate-covered ants. Chocolate-covered ants are imported from Mexico when there is food fad there in 1960. This snack is popular to people who love chocolate and an exotic twist for their palate but in time these snacks are not only consumed by them but also a new generation of ant eaters. The chocolate-covered ants have become a unique and unusual snack that has gained popularity over time.

Below is the recipe on how you can create your own chocolate-covered ants.
  1. Prepare a jar with sugar in it.
  2. Melt chocolates in a double boiler.
  3. Collect ants, like a leaf-cutting, weaver, honey, and black ants. Stay clear of fire ants. 
  4. Put all the collected ants in the jar with sugar. This will keep them happy because unhappy ants have the possibility to turn sour.
  5. Remove the antennae of each ant.
  6. Dip each ant in the melted chocolate and put them in wax paper to drain and cool down.
  7. Eat and enjoy!

 

However, if you don’t want to go through all the trouble to make these chocolate-covered ants at home, you can also buy chocolate-covered ants in different online shops that sell them. 

Who Eats Chocolate-Covered Ants

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So now you may wonder, who eats these chocolate-covered ants or ants in general? Ants are commonly eaten in countries belonging to the Asian, African, and Latin American continents. The Chinese like ants and like to eat them, and the same goes for Brazilians. Their favorite ants to eat are queen ants. On the other hand, in America, there is a candy store called “Hotlix” that sells chocolate-covered ants. 

 

However, if you are one of the people who do not want any ants species in Utah to infest their Salt Lake home and do not want to eat ants in order to eliminate them, you can call for an ant control Salt Lake to help with your infestation problems. 

Hire Professional Exterminators When Necessary

When attempting DIY pest control fails, it’s time to call upon professional ant pest control with experience dealing with pesky critters around homes or gardens across the Midvalley region. Professional exterminators can help identify the ant species and then provide targeted treatments. Additionally, they will advise how to prevent and monitor future infestations in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Clean Up Around the Affected Area

After getting rid of the ant infestation, clean up around the affected area. This will help prevent any future colonies of ants from finding their way into the pot. For example, clean up any debris or water spilled from watering cans, and remove any standing water around the area. If possible, add a layer of gravel or bark chips to the top of the soil in your pots to help keep ants away.

By following these steps, you can keep your plants free from ants and enjoy the beauty of your garden in Salt Lake City, Utah. Be sure to act quickly when you spot ants and take the appropriate measures to get rid of them as soon as possible. This will help ensure that your plants remain healthy for years to come.

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