Ants often appear in unexpected places, leading to questions about their diet and behavior. A common inquiry is whether these insects consume human hair. Understanding ant diets clarifies such observations.
The Simple Answer
Ants do not eat hair. Human hair is primarily keratin, a durable protein also found in nails and skin. Ants lack the specialized digestive enzymes, called keratinases, needed to break down this tough protein. Only a few organisms, like certain moths, beetles, and some fungi, can digest keratin. Therefore, hair offers no nutritional value to ants, making it an unsuitable food source.
Ants’ Typical Diet and How They Eat
Ants are omnivorous, eating various food sources to sustain their colonies. Their diet commonly includes sugary substances like nectar, honeydew from aphids, and fruit. They also consume proteins and fats from other insects, seeds, and dead animals. While species may differ, a combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats is generally sought for colony health.
Ants use their mandibles to cut, chew, and carry food back to their nest. Adult ants primarily ingest liquid food, as their digestive tracts cannot process solid particles. Worker ants often give solid food to larvae, who digest it and then regurgitate a liquid form for other colony members, a process called trophallaxis. Their digestive enzymes, like alpha-amylase, chitinase, and proteinase, break down sugars, plant material, and insect tissues, not keratin.
Why Ants Might Be Around Hair
While ants do not consume hair, their presence near it has several reasons. Ants are scavengers searching for sustenance, and hair can inadvertently trap food particles. These might include tiny crumbs, skin flakes, or residues from spilled sugary drinks or oily substances, all attractive food sources. Ants’ strong sense of smell allows them to detect these minute sources from a distance.
Ants might also use hair as nesting material, especially in moist or secluded areas. Some species build nests from fibers or soil, and hair can be incorporated. Additionally, ants may simply traverse hair as part of their foraging paths, which they mark with pheromones to guide others. Chemicals from human sebaceous glands or damp conditions can also attract some ant species to areas with hair.