Ants, those industrious insects, generally do not “like” or seek out feces as a primary food source. Their interest in waste is typically indirect and nuanced, stemming from specific components found within it rather than the waste product itself. Several factors influence whether ants might be drawn to feces, making their attraction a complex behavior.
What Ants Generally Consume
Ants are omnivores, meaning their diet is broad and includes both plant and animal matter. Foraging ants seek a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to sustain their colony’s various needs. Carbohydrates, often in the form of sugars, provide the primary energy source for adult worker ants, fueling their constant activity and foraging expeditions. These sugars can come from sources like nectar, fruit, or the sugary excretions of aphids known as honeydew.
Proteins are crucial for the growth and development of ant larvae and for the queen’s egg production, while fats offer long-term energy storage, particularly for overwintering ants. Ants obtain protein from sources such as other insects, insect eggs, or small dead animals. Water is also an essential component of their diet, as ants require moisture for survival. This diverse dietary requirement shapes their foraging behaviors, leading them to various food sources in their environment.
Specifics of Feces and Ant Interest
When ants approach feces, their attraction is usually not to the waste material itself, but rather to specific nutritional elements or conditions present within it. Feces, particularly from herbivores or omnivores, often contain undigested food particles like sugars, proteins, or fats that attract ants. Fire ants, for example, extract protein from cow dung.
Moisture content in feces can also attract ants, particularly in dry environments where water sources are scarce. A damp environment, like a dirty diaper, can provide a water source. Microbial activity within feces, as bacteria break down organic matter, might produce compounds or odors detectable by some ant species, though these are not primary attractants. However, feces also contain waste products and strong odors that deter most ants, and colonies typically practice hygiene to prevent pathogen spread.
Variations Among Ant Species
Ant species exhibit a wide range of dietary preferences, which influences their interest in feces. Most ant species are opportunistic feeders, consuming what is available, but some have highly specialized diets. For example, harvester ants primarily feed on seeds, while many common house ants are omnivores that consume sweets, meats, and fats. Army ants are carnivorous, actively hunting other insects and small vertebrates.
Fungus-farming ants, such as leafcutter ants, cultivate a specific fungus using chewed leaves and sometimes their own excrement, which serves as their primary food source. While most ant species avoid feces due to potential pathogens, some scavenger species (e.g., acrobat ants, Pharoah ants, red imported fire ants, little black ants) may investigate it for valuable nutrients like protein, especially if other food sources are limited. Turtle ants consume bird urine and mammal feces for nitrogen, processed by their gut bacteria.