Ants are ubiquitous across the UK landscape, making their way from gardens into homes. Understanding their diet is key to grasping their behavior. These insects are fundamentally omnivores, consuming a wide variety of foods from both plant and animal sources. Their foraging habits are highly adaptable, changing based on the season, environment, and the specific nutritional requirements of their colony.
Identifying Key UK Ant Species and Their Needs
The most commonly encountered ant in the UK is the Black Garden Ant, Lasius niger, responsible for the majority of indoor invasions. This species exhibits a strong preference for sugary substances, as these carbohydrates provide fast energy for the foraging workers. Colonies of Lasius niger can grow to thousands of individuals, often nesting under paving slabs or in soil near human structures. Another common species is Myrmica rubra, often called the European Fire Ant or common red ant, known for its aggressive nature and painful sting. Unlike the Black Garden Ant, Myrmica rubra has a diet more strongly balanced toward protein, though they still consume sugars.
Natural Foraging: The Outdoor Diet
When foraging outdoors, the ant diet is a complex mix of carbohydrates and protein, driven by the colony’s internal needs. Worker ants primarily seek out carbohydrates, which serve as the necessary fuel for foraging trips and nest maintenance. This energy source is often acquired through “farming” aphids, where ants stroke them to encourage the excretion of a sugary liquid called honeydew. For protein, the colony relies on scavenging dead insects, hunting smaller invertebrates, or consuming the body fluids of larger prey. Protein is especially important for the growth and development of the ant larvae, and the colony’s demand for it is highest in the spring and early summer when new brood is developing.
The Indoor Attraction: Why They Target Human Food
Ants become a nuisance indoors because human kitchens and pantries offer a highly concentrated, energy-rich food source that is far easier to access than their natural diet. Spilled soft drinks, fruit juices, and sugary residues are immediately attractive to species like Lasius niger because they fulfill the workers’ constant need for quick carbohydrates. Beyond sweets, ants are also drawn to sources of high-calorie fat and protein, often found in kitchen grease, meat scraps, or pet food. This opportunistic feeding means that crumbs of baked goods, cereals, or other starches are also collected, as they contain a mix of carbohydrates and protein.
Using Diet Knowledge for Management
Understanding the ant colony’s dietary requirements is the foundation for effective management and control. Since ants need both energy (sugar) and growth material (protein), control methods must deliver a slow-acting toxin directly to the nest through a palatable food source. The type of bait used should match the current nutritional demand of the colony to ensure maximum uptake. If an ant trail is primarily seeking sugary spills, a carbohydrate-based liquid or gel bait will be most effective because it meets the immediate energy needs of the foraging workers. Conversely, if the colony is focused on brood rearing and requires protein, a protein-rich bait may be necessary to target the queen and larvae directly.