Andrea Nungarrayi Wilson

Honey ants are a much prized delicacy, considered to be well worth the enormous effort it takes to dig them out of the ground. The ants dig tunnels quite deep under the ground ‘jirrijirrinpa’(mulga woodland) country. Branching from these passage ways are chambers (‘mingki’), from the ceiling of which the honey ants are suspended, full of food. With their swollen abdomens, the ants are unable to move. The country associated with this Jukurrpa is Wanakurdpanda, east of Yuendumu. This Jukurrpa also travels through Yuendumu, and belongs to Japangardi/Japanangka men and Napangardi/Napanangka women. Honey ants can be identified by a little yellow stripe on their backs.