The question of whether ants eat cheese is a common curiosity, often arising from the conflict between human homes and the natural foraging behavior of these social insects. Ants are driven by the colony’s need for specific nutrients, and their presence in the kitchen signals they have detected a rich food source. The answer lies in the complex nutritional profile of dairy and the specialized feeding methods of the ant colony. Understanding the science behind an ant’s diet reveals they are working to fuel the growth and survival of their entire nest.
Why Cheese is Attractive to Ants
Cheese is a dense source of macronutrients highly appealing to foraging ants. The primary attractants are high concentrations of protein and fat (lipids). These components are necessary for the development of new colony members, particularly the growing larvae and the egg-laying queen.
Fats provide an extremely high-potency energy source, which is especially beneficial for fueling the rapid activity of worker ants and supporting the high metabolic demands of the colony’s queen. Proteins are essential for tissue growth and repair, playing a direct role in the expansion of the ant population. Worker ants carry these protein-rich morsels back to the nest to feed the brood.
Species Differences: Why Some Ants Prefer Protein Over Sugar
Ant foraging behavior is divided by nutritional preference, meaning not all species are equally drawn to cheese. Ants are broadly categorized as either sugar feeders or protein feeders, reflecting the colony’s immediate needs. Adult worker ants primarily require carbohydrates, like sugar, for the quick energy needed for foraging and daily activities. Protein, however, is reserved for the queen’s egg production and the rapid growth of developing larvae.
Species like the Argentine ant often prefer carbohydrates but switch to protein when the colony requires larval growth. Conversely, species like the Pavement ant or Pharaoh ant are more opportunistic, seeking out protein and fat to sustain their brood. The colony’s current life stage, such as a phase of high reproduction, determines whether protein-rich cheese is prioritized.
The Mechanics of Consuming Solid Food
The physical act of eating a solid like cheese requires a complex, multi-step process for the ant colony. Adult worker ants cannot actually ingest solid food because their digestive tracts are designed to filter out particles; they can only drink liquids. To overcome this limitation, the foraging worker uses its mandibles to scrape and break down the cheese into small, transportable pieces.
These solid fragments are transported back to the nest, where they are fed to the larvae. The larvae function as a digestive caste, using their own digestive enzymes to liquefy the solid protein externally. In some species, the workers place the food fragments onto a special groove on the older larvae’s belly, and the larvae then spit out enzymes to dissolve the material. Once the solid food is broken down into a liquid slurry, the adult workers can imbibe it and distribute the nutrients throughout the colony using a mouth-to-mouth process called trophallaxis.