Water Beetle, anyone?

We actually took this picture about three months ago and I forgot to post it. I think our kids have been waiting for it, so here it is!

Before we got our car, we had to take a songtaew (a pickup with benches along the bed) to Kumpawabi for me to teach piano lessons. We saw all kinds of interesting people in our travels; this woman was among them. She got on the songtaew carrying a wicker basket with a cover on it. After we had ridden a little way, we realized she had made a sale to the lady sitting across from her. The lady bought six of these for 120 baht (about $4). The woman carefully pulled them out one by one and put them in a plastic bag while protecting the basket opening so none could escape. The lady seemed very pleased with her purchase and soon got off.

This woman told us these beetles were very delicious and that we should buy some and try them. Ray said, "No, but thank you." Then he said that people at home would find it interesting that people ate these and would she mind if he took a picture. She said she was afraid they would get away. They were very hard to catch, and she had worked all morning searching through the flooded rice fields to get the ones she had. He assured her that if any escaped, he would pay her for them. So, she posed for our camera. After our conversation, she sold one to the man sitting across from us and then got off. We asked him how he ate them. He said that he boiled them in water spiced with garlic and hot peppers and then mashed them up to add to food as a flavoring. He ALSO said that we should try them because they were really good. Anyone interested?