Money-Making Occupation: Catching Fried Rice Ants and Selling Them to Generate Income.

Ban Dan: Once a year, catching rice ants and frying them to sell to generate income during the rice harvest season. During the rice harvest season in Ban Dan, Dan Subdistrict, Kab Choeng District, Surin Province, various types of insects that live and feed in the rice fields fly out to find food and a new place to live. Villagers will go out to catch insects to eat or sell to increase their income to support their families. According to Thai News Agency, the method employed by the villagers to catch these insects involves the installation of purple neon lights to attract them. A basin filled with water is placed at the bottom so that when the insects fly into the light and hit the zinc, they fall into the basin. Rice beetles, available only during the rice harvest season once a year, are fried and sold for 30 baht per cup. The villagers manage to sell about 2 kg per day, earning a total of 1,400 baht. For customers who prefer to fry the insects themselves, the price is 400 baht per kg.