Ants are common insects found almost everywhere in the world, and they play a crucial role in various ecosystems. However, when they invade your home, particularly the kitchen, they can become a real nuisance.
Ants are attracted to a wide range of food sources, both inside the home and in the wild. Whether it's sugary treats, protein-rich morsels, or decaying organic matter, ants are highly resourceful in finding food. Here's everything about what does an ant eat:
What Do Ants Eat In Your Home
You might have seen ants eating and storing food. They are hardworking insects that save food for winter and their offspring. They can climb on walls snatch food from anywhere and shift from that place to their nest.
In addition, they are especially attracted to sweets and mostly. This includes honey, syrup, candy, and fruit juices. Also, some ants are attracted to meat and dead insects. The food they store is generally enough for them to feed and they start to search for food for another treat.
Ants are mostly attracted by sugar and like to feed on food composed of sugar since it has been rated as one of their vital sources of energy that makes them work continuously. Mostly they get attracted by honey, table sugar, and syrups.
This thus pushes the ants to leftovers and spills or any other food items like soda or juice, which are easily accessible to them as a source of glucose that works like fuel in their bodies. Since ants are workaholics and never rest, these food items rich in sugar boost up their energy and provide them fuel to work.
2. Fruit
Fruits that are fresh, decayed, or overripe attract the ants. Fruits like apples, berries, and bananas contain natural sugar and become more enticing as the fruits start to ferment and start to change their properties releasing more sugars and moisture.
This makes the fruit an easy target for ants, especially if left out without covering them. It is better to store them in a sealed dustbin or also can be used for making fertilizers in your yard. The choice is yours but the best thing to do to prevent ants from getting access to these fruits is proper disposal of them.
Ants are omnivorous, and most of them are also predatory. These insects go looking for insects or other animals to feed on, adding to that source of protein. They will also feed on food with nectar, made from sweet-scented flowers, or any other sweet food that they will be able to find.
Besides that, the carcasses of dead animals have reportedly been turned into food by ants when near the colony. This is because there is no threat from predators to the colony or its food sources. So, it becomes easy food for the ants.
4. Seeds & Grains
Some species of harvester ants’ diets rely solely on seeds and grains of local plant life for sustenance. These ants are often referred to as agricultural ants because they play a key role in the propagation of local plant life.
By consuming specific seeds of certain plants, they help control some species that would otherwise take over a given space and suffocate the life of less aggressive plants. Overall, ants can also help to balance the ecosystem.
Bread might not be the most appetizing item in your kitchen, but many species of ants will happily eat it. Similar to candy, bread contains fast-acting carbohydrates that give them energy for their tasks. To make sure your bread is free from ant intruders, keep it sealed in a plastic bag.
Ants not only enjoy the bread itself but also the crumbs left around the house. Breadcrumbs can easily get on floors and surfaces, so make sure you regularly vacuum, wipe, or sweep these areas after eating to prevent the ants from feeding off your home.
6. Peanut Butter
Ants seek food that contains a source of sugar, protein, or fat. Nut butters are a perfect combination of all three and ants will easily be attracted to this source of nutrition. Like meat and candy, keeping stored peanut butter out of an ant’s reach is fairly easy as they are well-packaged.
The problem with these foods is that they come into contact with more surfaces. Peanut butter is a sticky substance that will cling to countertops, knives forks, and plates. You can prevent ants from finding and eating your nut butter by regularly washing up cutlery and plates after use.
7. Other Insects
Although most homeowners do not want to admit it, there are some insects and bugs that have been spotted in your home. This goes double when your home is older and you reside in a rural area. Most of them are harmless and help keep the insects at bay, like house spiders.
Some household bugs are tougher to control and just bother you in your own home. The aphid is an extremely small bug feeding on plant juices and makes your houseplants slowly die, and it is a perfect food for ants.
8. Pets Food
They also eat pet leftovers, especially if the content has any meat or protein-rich elements something that ants are significantly drawn to if not controlled and cleaned on time. Pet food bowls where the pet normally consumes its food daily should be cleaned after feeding.
Else, they may end up being an ant feeding ground, that may eventually attract very high levels of infestation. Try as much as possible not to feed your dogs in your house. The alternative is feeding them in a kennel or outside where there is a shade for dogs.
Ants also eat food snacks like crackers, chips, and other dry, starchy foods that attract ants. These items are stored in cupboards or pantries on most of the houses. If not sealed properly, ants can easily get inside the packaging damaging the foods and stealing them.
Also, you should consider cleaning the snack leftovers like chip particles which are preferred by ants. Do this precisely and stay safe from being infested by ants. You may not prefer ants crawling in your surroundings.
10. Food Waste
Trash bins where the foods are being disposed of in the kitchen become a food source for the ants which becomes their regular habit to feed on it. They are attracted to this if the bins are not tightly sealed or left open without covering.
Ants can easily enter them and feed off leftovers of food like meats remaining, organic waste. they also get attracted to sticky substances that are being spilled in the trash bin. Avoid purring sugar-rich food items on trash and better to wash them away to avoid ants.
First, it's important to clarify ants aren't vegetable garden pests. But, they can be frustrating to deal with, and they may also target fruits and vegetables in your home. They target fruits due to their sugar content, especially juicy varieties.
Ants can eat pumpkins, melons, cucumber, lettuce, and other types of produce. To prevent them from stealing your vegetables and damaging them it is better to refrigerate them or keep them in a safe place where ants can get access.
12. Water
When food is absent water becomes essential for ants to feed on. They are generally near the source of moisture for easy access. The sites are usually leaky pipes, damp sponges, wet sinks, and even condensation around windows can attract the ants.
In dry situations, ants are attracted to water and seek to eat. they actively seek eaters and homes with high humidity are generally a target for the ants. To prevent these it is better to dry spilled water on the floor and maintain dry as far as you can.
What Sweet Do Ant Eat
Ants are mainly attracted to a wide variety of sweets, which are the main essential factor for them to provide energy sources for their colonies. Here we have mentioned some of the sweet foods that ants like to seek at your home.
Candy
Candies are mixed items of ingredients that include sugar which is the main factor as a target for ants. Hard candies, gummy candies, jelly beans, and even some chocolates that are high in glucose are some of the candies that ants like to seek as their source of energy.
Also, the leftover candies pieces, candy wrappers, or small crumbs are enough to pull the ants towards your home as ants can easily gather the remaining sugar. It is better to clean all the wrappers and clean the sticky area exposed to sweet particles properly.
Ice Cream
Ice cream, sorbets, and other frozen desserts contain sugar with fat and flavors that are favorite for ants. As ice cream melts, it becomes sticky with sugar liquid that is easy for the ants to consume. Desserts like cakes, cookies, and pastries are also high in sugar that leaves sticky particles.
Ants are likely to get drawn towards this kind of food item. They can easily gather and consume this kind of dessert as they are easy for them. The small particles are lighter to carry and shift from the location toward their nest.
Condensed Milk
Sweetened condensed milk is the remaining milk after removing the amount of water present in it and adding a large volume of sugar. This creates a thick, sticky, and incredibly sweet substance that is preferred by the ants irresistible towards it.
Even a small drop of the condensed milk becomes attractant for the ants. The high sugar content is a rich source of food for the ants, which can be easily shifted from the food location toward their nests. The number of ants increases during the shifting work.
Chocolate is less preferred by ants in comparison to other food items due to the extra ingredients added to it for preservation and taste. Ants still get toward it, especially on milk chocolate, which contains sugar and fats Ants are drawn to sugars in chocolate.
The fats present in the chocolates are the source of energy for ants. Usually the leftover pieces, crumbs, or melted chocolate on the surface of your home can invite these insects to hunt for food at your home. To prevent these it's better to properly dispose of the wrappers.
Jams
Jams contain a high amount of sugar making them attractants for the ants. These jams are usually made from fruit juice and sugar, creating a dense, sweet substance that ants can easily consume. The sticky nature of jams and jellies makes them easy to gather and shift to their nest.
Even a small leftover jam on the lid of the jar or a spoon can attract the ants quickly. The sweetness of the fruit combined with the added sugar makes these items attractive to the ants. The leftovers of jam, spills of the jam on the tables, and sticky jar jam can attract the ants.
Fruit Juices
Fruit juices come in a seal packed with natural sugars like fructose and glucose which become attractants for ants. The decent of these fruit juices is easily detectable by ants whether it is in huge amounts or less amount.
Usually the spilled juice around the table or floor, sticky juice around the cap of the juice bottle or fruit juice left in the glass can easily attract the ants. The combination of sugar and moisture in fruit juice makes it more attractive to the ants.
Syrup
Syrups are attractive to ants due to thick appearance that contains high sugar. Items like maple syrup on pancakes, corn syrup for baking, and golden syrup for desserts are attractive sources for ants due to the presence of sugar liquid in them.
The thick texture of these syrups allows the ants to carry them in small amounts on their back to their nests without losing them on the way while shifting. Syrup spills are problematic due to the sticky remains that last for a longer time.
Soft drinks like soda-sweetened teas, and flavored water are high in sugar. Even a small spill of these items on the floor can become the reason for ants exposure in your home. The cap of these items also contains the remaining juices which become attractants for ants.
The sugary liquid is easy to access and consume for ants, and because it is in liquid form it can quickly get into the gaps of the surface making it more difficult to clean up completely. This creates a problem and invites the ants.
What Do Ants Eat In Wild
In the wild, ants have different diets that depend on the species of the ants and the resources available there in the environment.
Insects
Ants are opportunistic predators and scavengers. Many species hunt or scavenge for small insects, spiders, and other arthropods. They kill live prey or gather dead insects, returning them to their colony. Protein from these sources is necessary to the growth and development of ant larvae.
Aphids
Honeydew is a sweet liquid wasted by aphids and other insects that suck the juice of plants. Most ant species are known to develop mutualistic relations with honeydew-producing aphids, protecting them against many predators in return for a constant secretion of honeydew.
Plant Nectar
They are also attracted to sweet, sugary nectar from flowering plants. It is such a fast and efficient form of energy, that some plants have evolved to produce nectar to attract ants which will help defend the plant from herbivores or disperse seeds.
Ants are scavengers and will often feed on dead animals, including other insects, small mammals, and birds. The protein from carrion is crucial for ant larvae development. Some ant species, like army ants, are known for their aggressive scavenging of carcasses.
Fruits
Fruits are energy-dense due to their high sugar content; they are an efficient energy source for these insects. The ants will feed on the soft, fleshy parts of the fruit and cut away small portions to their nest. On occasion, they will disperse the seeds by defecation.
Honey
Some reports even exist of ants raiding beehives for honey in certain areas. The high sugar content of honey makes it a very nourishing food for the ant colony. Any that do penetrate a hive gain access to vast amounts of honey.
Other Ants
Sometimes, ants may eat ants from their own or other species. This can happen in defense of territory from intruders or simply when food is in low supply. Other ants' proteins can be quite substantial during hard times.
Is There Anything Ants Don't Eat?
While ants have different types of diets and are capable of eating almost everything, there are a few things that ants usually don't eat and cant digest.
Metal
The entire metals, be they iron, steel, aluminum, or copper, are indigestible to ants. Metals are inorganic and hence cannot be digested by the ants' digestive enzymes, so they provide no nutritional benefit.
Glass
Like metal, glass is an inorganic material that are not eaten by ants. There is no nutritional content and is wholly indigestible to them.
Rubber
Rubber, whether natural or synthetic, is not a food component for ants. Natural rubber is, however, an extract from trees, and it undergoes processing that renders food inaccessible to the ants.
