Little black ants (Monomorium minimum) are tiny insects, typically measuring 1.5 to 2 millimeters, that commonly invade homes seeking sustenance. They are highly successful pests due to their diverse and adaptable diet. Understanding what attracts these ants is the first step in effective management and preventing them from establishing trails inside a structure. Their foraging behavior is driven by the colony’s nutritional demands.
Omnivorous Diet: Sugar, Protein, and Fat Needs
Little black ants are omnivores, meaning their diet is composed of a broad range of both plant and animal matter. This varied appetite allows them to exploit nearly any available food source they encounter, whether indoors or outdoors. The specific nutrient they seek depends heavily on the internal needs of the colony at any given time.
Worker ants primarily require carbohydrates, often sugars, to fuel their search for food. Conversely, the queen and developing larvae demand protein and fats. These nutrients are essential for the growth, development, and reproduction of the colony.
Specific Sources Found Outdoors and Indoors
Outdoors, little black ants frequently consume sweet liquids derived from plants, such as nectar and various secretions. A particularly important carbohydrate source is “honeydew,” a sugary substance secreted by sap-feeding insects like aphids. For protein and fats, they scavenge for dead insects and also consume pollen and seeds.
When outdoor food supplies diminish, these ants readily move indoors, attracted to similar food scraps. Indoor carbohydrate sources include sugary spills, candy, and fruit juices. They are also drawn to household sources of fat and protein, such as meat scraps, pet food left in bowls, and grease deposits around kitchen appliances.
Using Their Diet Against Them
The ants’ specific dietary requirements form the basis of effective control strategies, particularly through insecticidal baits. Baiting relies on workers carrying a slow-acting, non-repellent poison back to the nest to eliminate the queen and larvae. This method is only successful if the workers do not die before distributing the poison throughout the colony.
Because the colony’s needs fluctuate, successful baiting often requires offering both a sugar-based bait and a protein/fat-based bait simultaneously. If the ants ignore one type, it indicates their current hunger is for the other nutrient. Providing the food type they seek ensures the toxic substance is consumed and distributed throughout the entire colony.