Villagers in Nakhon Ratchasima, when free from farming, use tools to harvest "red ant eggs" for family consumption. If they collect enough, they sell them at 500 baht per kilogram, creating income during the dry season. Some have made this their main source of income.
On 19 March 2026, villagers of Ban Don Tat Ruea in Non Daeng Subdistrict, Non Daeng District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, spent their free time from farming to gather red ant eggs to cook for their families. When collecting large quantities, they sell them as a supplementary income. During this dry season, red ants build nests and lay eggs on trees along the Ban Don Tat Ruea–Non Daeng road in large numbers.
Ms. Preeyaporn Kaengkhan, 33, a villager from Ban Don Tat Ruea, said she is currently free from farming duties, so she goes out to collect red ant eggs to eat with her family. She spends only a few hours daily gathering enough to share with neighbors. Each day, she collects about one to two kilograms and sells them at 500 baht per kilogram. Some villagers, however, deliberately harvest red ant eggs seriously to sell, earning a substantial income since the current price is 500 baht per kilogram. They even receive advance orders because red ant eggs are in high demand and popular among most locals. This allows some to earn between 1,000 and 1,500 baht per day from selling red ant eggs.