What Do Ants Eat?

We see them carrying all sorts of matter as they scurry across the floor, which begs the question…”What do ants eat?” You might be surprised by the variety in their diet. From sweets to proteins, what do ants eat depends on their species and colony needs. They are social insects and their colonies contain several different types, or castes, of soldiers, workers, queens, and males. They keep their colony thriving by hibernating through the winter months. However, if a colony nests indoors, the castes may remain active all year-round. Ants are fascinating and their eating habits are too. Before specifically going into what ants eat, let us first explain how ants eat.

How Do Ants Feed Each Other?

Like many social insect colonies, what do ants eat becomes a family affair as ants share food among nestmates. Ants store liquid food within their bodies and then regurgitate and feed it to their nestmates—distributing it over large portions of the colony.

During lean periods, parts of the colony can serve as a living reservoir to conserve food. In other words, some worker ants are filled with food and regurgitate it over time to keep feeding the colony when no new food supplies are coming into the nest.

These worker ants who are storing food within their body can be seen if you pay attention to their abdomen. The more filled it is with food the more distended it becomes. Ants can become so filled with food that they have difficulty moving around. Fun fact: In some ant species like ghost ants which are found in warmer climates, you can actually see their food through their clear abdomen.

When a worker ant arrives at the colony with the food supply, a hungry nestmate will approach the worker who is simply a vessel for storing the food ants eat. The nestmate signals to the worker ant by moving its antenna and forelegs. It will go as far as to stroke the worker ants’ antenna. This then results in the worker ant regurgitating the food to feed the nestmate.

What Do Ants Eat in Nature?

So…what do ants eat? Ants eat plants, seeds, decaying plant matter and animal material. Many types of ants prey on other insects. Termites are one of their favorite meals.

Honeydew, which is the sweet substance produced by tiny insects called aphids, is also a favorite food that many ants eat. It is a liquid rich in sugar and is secreted by aphids as they feed on plant sap.

Ants are protectors of aphids and will aggressively defend them against predators like ladybugs and wasps. Oftentimes, they will patrol around the aphids continuously and even relocate them as needed.

Keep What Ants Eat in Your Pantry Safe

From sweets to proteins, what do ants eat depends on their species and colony needs. There are several things you can do to help keep ants from finding those tempting foods in your home.

Eliminate Moisture

The first part of keeping ants away is to eliminate any moisture issues around the house. Repair leaky pipes and faucets, and faulty drainage around gutters is a frequent problem that can lead to infestations. Also reduce humidity in basements and crawl spaces.

Keep It Clean

Ants are crafty little suckers and there is nothing they like more than following the trail of spills and dirty dishes. Vacuuming regularly, promptly cleaning up spills and crumbs, and washing dishes are easy ways to deter the ants from eating your food.

Store Your Food

When wondering “What do ants eat?”, the answer is anything they can get to. Store your food in airtight containers and make sure they seal properly. Ants can crawl into the tiniest openings so if that tupperware lid is warped from too many washes in the dishwasher, accept its fate and throw it out.

Seal Entry Points

Check for cracks and holes in your foundation and seal them using caulk or other approved methods. If you can see the cracks, so can the ants and you’ll find out quickly what ants eat. Make sure doors and windows are sealed up nice and tight. Weather-stripping is a great way to fill any gaps you find.

Take Out the Trash

This is a no-brainer, but trash cans are a beacon for all sorts of pests, including ants. When questioning what do eat, you can be certain your trash can is a cornucopia of treats they love.

How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Yard?

If you’re having ant issues because of what ants eat in your home, you are probably also finding ant hills in your yard. While ant infestations can occur indoors, your yard is typically the source of any ant activity inside your house. Once ants are eliminated outside, the ant problem in your house will most likely disappear. If you want to find out what do ants eat, start by finding the nests. It might sound strange, but knowing where their nest is can give you a good idea of what that ant colony is eating. You can try to eliminate the ant hills with an appropriate insecticide treatment. A popular DIY method is to pour boiling water onto the nest. While this can sometimes work, we suggest avoiding this method as boiling water can be dangerous and cause severe burns.

Once the ant hills are taken care of, it is best to make sure any of the conditions that attract ants are handled. Standing water in your backyard can draw unwanted pests. Do your best to get rid of any sources of standing water. Firewood is also a gathering place for ants, especially carpenter ants. Store firewood twenty feet or further away from your home. It is also important to keep branches and shrubbery trimmed and away from the house. When branches are close to the walls or foundation, ants can easily use them as a bridge inside, and then you’ll quickly find out the answer to what do ants eat in your pantry.

You can avoid the hassle of having to search for what ants eat and keep your home from becoming those ant invaders’ next food buffet, or even worse—residence, by giving our team at Kapture Pest Control a call. Our treatments are safe for your family and effective in creating an insect free zone around your house.