At fiesta time in certain parts of Mexico, ant candy is one of the treats that children and grownups look forward to. The special types of ants which are used for this candy are called honey ants.
Honey ants gather a kind of syrup that other insects leave on oak leaves. As an ant eats this syrup, its body swells enormously until it is the size of a large raisin, and too fat to move quickly.
The Mexicans catch these ants and cut off their heads and legs. The rest of their honey-filled bodies are then piled on plates and served as candy. They are said to have the taste of a sweet, juicy fruit.
