DIETS INFORMATION

Sugars & Fruits

Most ants will eat sugary foods when they can find it, for some, it is their sole source of food. In nature this usually comes in the form of nectar and other liquid secretions from plants and flowers. Honeydew secretions from aphids and other plant-eating creatures, like caterpillars; fruit, and other sweet plants.
Meats & Protein

Some species of ants are predatory and will feed on other insects for food. This includes just about any insect they come across. Ants will also scavenge meat from larger prey, like rodents or fish, or other fallen animals when they can. Army ants have been known to actually kill large animals.
Seeds & Grains.

Harvester ants mainly forage for the seeds of various plants, but will also harvest grains, grasses, leaves, and other plant material.
Vegetables

Most ants will eat vegetables or other food bearing plants, and can be a nuisance for gardeners


Cannibalistic Ants

In addition to being omnivorous, ants are also cannibalistic and have no problem eating other ants. Army ants in particular will prey on the brood (eggs, larvae, and very young ants) of other ants. Army ants will purposely invade the nests of other ant species to feast on thier brood. When this happens the ants from the invaded colony will run from the nest carrying their young in their mandibles. Other ant species have even designed special closable entrances that can be blocked when they hear an approaching Army ant swarm.

When a queen ant starts a new colony and begins laying her eggs, there is no food around and no worker ants to get the food for the new born baby ants. So the queen does what any sensible mother would do...and feeds the young her eggs! That's not all. If times get too rough for the colony and the workers aren't bringing in enough food. The queen has no problem devouring some of her children to ensure her survival.

How much does an individual ant eat and harvest?

We first need to determine how much an individual ant eats in one day. The amount an ant will eat will vary from species to species, but the average ant consumes approximately 1-2 miligrams of food per day - About 20-35% of their body weight. This is not the same as the amount of food that they will harvest, or bring back to the nest. An ant will make an average of 30 foraging trips each day, and often times they will be carrying 5 to 50 times their body weight. Using 5 times their body weight as our average load, it is not unreasonable for a single ant to bring back 750mg (almost 1 gram) to the colony each day.

Food

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