Thursday, September 05, 2013

My poor Almond tree

Leaf cutter ants don´t often bother almond (almendra) trees but last night they did. I thought rain sends them in hiding but it rained all night and it didn't slow them down a bit. In the dry season the homes of these ants are pretty easy to find but now the weeds (sacate) are high. I wondered why they went to the top of the tree but then realized that is where all the tender new growth is. Gonna have to get out there with a flashlight tonight but if it's raining the normal powder won't work.

Maybe I'll have to resort to using them as protein.
Atta species are a popular ingredient in Mexican cuisine, particularly in the southern states such as Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Puebla and Veracruz. It is considered a delicacy, as well as a food of high protein content, therefore it is often served as a main dish, not as garnish, despite its small portions. They may be eaten as the sole filling in tacos. The Atta (a leaf cutter ant species), the type of ant most eaten in Mexico, has a nutty flavor.

Almond tree from my roof

What to look for in the dry season

On a lighter note
Two of the three Neem trees I've planted on the Plaza


2 comments:

Steve Cotton said...

If they did not destroy the garden, the leaf cutter ants would be on the top of my Amazing Insects list. But, they do. As a result, they are on the top of my To Be Destroyed list.

sparks said...

Grin .... I'll let you know what I find tonight. Unless they ate all the good stuff and will look elsewhere

The construction of the house finished in April 2011 and I'm pretty much settled in. As of March 2014 I'm in preparation for rain mode for this coming summer. That includes sealing and painting things and dealing with drainage issues from last year.

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