Villagers hunted for prized ant eggs to sell in markets for a handsome profit in Thailand.

The locals scoured tall trees along rural village roads, where the red ants liked to build their nests, in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

A kilogram of the bug eggs could fetch for up to 400 THB (12 USD) depending on their size, farmers said.

Villager Chaleo Aunkongpanao, 66, took part in the food gathering on June 18.

He said: 'During this period, red ants create numerous nests on trees, leading people to collect their eggs to sell.

'On certain days, we could collect around two to three kilograms of ant eggs, which would earn us around 1,000 to 2,000 baht (29 to 58 USD).'

To gather the valuable ingredients, Chaleo tied a long bamboo pole to a paint bucket. He would then poke around in the nests high above the ground, causing the eggs to fall into the receptacle.

The harvest is then soaked in water, where the eggs will fall to the bottom while live ants float to the top.

The maggot-like treats are said to be flavourful, and are often used to create various dishes such as omelettes and 'Hor Mok' - steamed curry in banana leaves - while they are in season.

Chaleo said: 'Ant eggs are rare, so they are sought after in the market, especially now that the dry season is coming to an end. During the rainy season, it becomes much harder to find ant's nests.'