What Do Ants Eat?

Ants eat a wide variety of foods, including sugary substances, insects, seeds, fruit and food scraps. Their diet depends on the species, the availability of food and the nutritional needs of the colony. While many ants are attracted to sweet foods, they also require protein and other nutrients to support their development.

In the UK, the black garden ant (Lasius niger) is one of the species most commonly found entering homes in search of food. These ants are particularly attracted to sugar, although they also collect insects and other protein-rich materials.

Ants generally seek carbohydrates for energy and protein to support the growth of their larvae. Understanding these feeding habits can help explain why they sometimes appear in kitchens, cupboards and other areas where food is stored.

What Foods Do Ants Eat Naturally?

Ants have a varied diet in the wild, with different species taking advantage of whatever suitable food is available.

Nectar and Honeydew

Many ants feed on nectar from flowers and honeydew produced by aphids and other sap-feeding insects. Honeydew is a sugary liquid that provides an important energy source for numerous ant species.

Black garden ants are particularly well known for tending aphids on plants. They collect the honeydew produced by the aphids and may defend them against some predators.

This relationship explains why ants are often seen travelling along plant stems or gathering around aphid colonies in gardens.

Insects and Other Invertebrates

Ants also feed on insects and other small invertebrates. Some species hunt live prey, while others collect dead insects they encounter while foraging.

These protein-rich foods are particularly important when a colony has developing larvae. Worker ants collect suitable material and return it to the nest, where it can be used to feed the young.

Seeds and Plant Materials

Certain ant species collect seeds and other plant materials as part of their diet. However, this behaviour varies considerably between species, and not all ants regularly eat seeds.

In UK gardens, ants may also investigate fallen fruit and other plant material, particularly when it provides accessible sugars.

Why Are Ants Attracted to Sugar?

Sugar provides a readily available source of energy for worker ants. They need this energy to travel between the nest and food sources, maintain the colony and care for developing young.

This is why ants frequently investigate sweet substances such as jam, honey, syrup, fruit juice and spilled soft drinks. Even small amounts of sugary residue can attract foraging workers.

Once an ant discovers a reliable food source, other workers may begin following the same route. Before long, a few ants investigating a spill can become a visible trail moving between the kitchen and their nest.

Do Ants Eat Meat and Greasy Foods?

Yes. Although ants are often associated with sugar, many species will also collect meat, fats and other protein-rich foods.

Small pieces of cooked meat, pet food and greasy leftovers can attract ants, particularly when a colony requires additional protein for its developing larvae.

Food preferences can change throughout the season. An ant colony that was previously attracted to sugary substances may begin showing greater interest in protein-rich foods as its nutritional requirements change.

This is one reason ants may appear around different food sources at different times of the year.

What Foods Attract Ants Into UK Homes?

Ants entering houses are often searching for accessible food rather than somewhere to establish a new nest. Kitchens and dining areas provide plenty of opportunities, especially when small spillages or crumbs are overlooked.

Common attractants include:

• Sugar, jam, honey and syrup

• Cakes, biscuits and sweet crumbs

• Fruit and spilled fruit juice

• Pet food left in bowls

• Meat scraps and greasy leftovers

• Food waste in kitchen bins

Even a clean home can experience ant activity if a nearby colony discovers a suitable food source. A small gap around a door, window or pipe can provide enough access for workers to begin exploring indoors.

How Do Ants Find Food?

Ants use their senses and chemical communication to locate food and guide other members of the colony towards it.

Individual worker ants leave the nest to explore their surroundings. When a worker finds a useful food source, it may lay a chemical trail containing pheromones as it returns to the colony.

Other workers can detect this trail and follow it towards the food. As more ants use the route, the trail may become stronger, encouraging further activity.

This explains why ants often appear in organised lines along skirting boards, worktops and garden paths. The trail helps them travel efficiently between their nest and a reliable food source.

When the food disappears, the trail may gradually weaken, although workers can continue exploring the area for other opportunities.

Do Ants Eat Different Foods During the Year?

An ant colony’s nutritional requirements can change as it develops. During periods when large numbers of larvae are growing, workers may collect more protein-rich foods to support their development.

Sugary substances remain important because they provide energy for adult workers. However, the balance between carbohydrates and proteins can vary depending on the species and colony’s needs.

In the UK, outdoor ant activity is generally more noticeable during warmer months. During winter, black garden ants usually become much less active as temperatures fall, although ants living in heated buildings may behave differently.

Can Ants Survive Without Food?

Ants need regular access to suitable nutrients, but how long they can survive without food depends on the species, temperature, available water and individual circumstances.

Colonies may also have access to stored food or resources that are not immediately visible. Removing food from one area of a property therefore does not necessarily eliminate the colony.

Worker ants may simply begin searching elsewhere, particularly when their nest is located outdoors.

How Can You Stop Ants Finding Food in Your Kitchen?

Reducing accessible food sources is an important part of discouraging ants from entering a property. Wipe up sugary spills promptly, clean beneath kitchen appliances and avoid leaving uncovered food on worktops.

Dry goods should be kept in suitable sealed containers, while pet bowls and feeding areas should be cleaned regularly. Kitchen bins should also be emptied and kept closed, particularly during warmer weather.

If you notice an ant trail, follow it from a safe distance to identify where the insects are entering. Small gaps around doors, windows and pipework may need sealing once the activity has been assessed.

However, cleaning alone may not resolve an established problem. Ants can continue returning from a nearby nest, particularly when suitable food remains available elsewhere.

Why Do Ants Keep Returning After You Remove the Food?

Removing an accessible food source may reduce activity temporarily, but it does not eliminate the colony responsible for sending workers into the property.

Ants can continue exploring familiar routes, and new workers may discover other food sources nearby. Colonies may also have several entrances or access points, making the problem difficult to resolve by simply cleaning one area.

Persistent activity is more likely when a nest is close to the building or when ants have established reliable routes through gaps in the property.

Professional identification can help determine which species is present, where the ants are coming from and whether treatment is necessary.

Professional Ant Control

Finding a few ants outdoors is usually nothing to worry about. However, repeated trails across kitchen surfaces, food cupboards or commercial food preparation areas can become a persistent nuisance.

Youngs Pest Control provides professional ant control for homes and businesses. Our technicians assess the activity, identify likely entry points and recommend suitable treatment and prevention measures.

With over 35 years of pest control experience, our family-run business serves customers throughout Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.

If ants keep appearing in your kitchen or other areas of your property, contact Youngs Pest Control on 0161 776 9832 or 07845 815 261 for professional advice.