Ants are commonly found in gardens throughout the UK, but they can also infest homes and commercial premises. These tiny creatures are usually found in kitchens and areas with food in them, and can be a nuisance, as well as contaminating food and causing distress.
That’s why Pest-Tech offers expert ant control services for residents and business owners across Maidstone and Kent. Our team understand how distressing ant colonies can be, and we can quickly remove them and prevent ants from returning.
So, what do ants eat? Keep reading to find out more about the diet of most ants found in the UK and how you can avoid attracting them.
What Different Ant Species Eat
While there are over 15,000 different ant species in the world, only around 50 of them are found in the UK, as many tropical ants prefer warmer climates.
Of the species found in the UK, black ants are the most common, but other ants found in the UK include carpenter ants, red ants, pharaoh’s ants and others.
Each species has a slightly different diet, but their primary food source is usually organic matter, such as fungus, fruit and vegetables.
Some ant species, such as fire ants, have a more protein rich diet, and will eat other ants and dead insects they find.
In the case of the carpenter ant, a misconception is that they eat wood. This is not the case, but they do chew wood to built tunnels and gain access to food, or to use for their nests.
Common Foods Ants Eat In The UK
While they are all different, many ant species found in the UK have similar diets. These are some of the most common foods preferred by UK ants.
Fungus
While some ants, like leafcutter ants, cut and carry leaves, they don’t actually eat them. That’s because ants can’t digest cellulose, which is found in leaves, but fungus can eat it and use it as food. Fungus grown near ant nests can be a great source of energy for ants, and gives them all the nutrients from the leaves without the cellulose, which they can’t digest.
Pollen
Ants eat pollen and can be useful in helping to pollinate plants and flowers. Pollen can be a good source of energy for ants and while they don’t actively forage for it, they will eat it when they find it.
Grains
Grains such as seeds and wheat from agricultural sites, such as farms and fields, can be good food for ants.
Sugary Foods
It’s a well-known fact that ants are attracted to sugary substances. In nature, this usually means nectar or fruit, but they can also like soft drinks, chocolate and other sugary foods. Sugar gives them the energy they need to carry out their industrious work.
Other Insects
Many ant species eat other insects, scraps of dead animals or even other ant species. Queen ants usually need a protein rich diet to help birth and feed their young, so they will rely on the worker ants to bring them dead insects and scraps of meat. This will help the larvae grow into adult ants and expand the ant colony.
How Do Ants Find Food Sources?
Ants are scavengers by nature, meaning they will eat whatever they find. These opportunistic feeders have a powerful sense of smell, and their antennae act as an olfactory organ to help them locate food quickly.
Once ants have found a food source, they will secrete pheromones, and these chemical trails will encourage other worker ants from their colony to join them. They will then take the food back to the ant nest for the queen ant and larvae.
As such, if your property has an easily accessible food source for foraging ants, then you will quickly find that one ant sighting becomes a major infestation.
Water, decaying organic matter and warm spaces also attract ants, which is why they often enter homes and commercial kitchens.
How To Avoid Accidentally Attracting Ants
To avoid attracting ants without meaning to, it’s important that you’re proactive. While it’s impossible to completely prevent ants from noticing your property or entering it, there are simple ways to discourage ants, including:
- Store Food Correctly: Use airtight containers to store dried food to avoid leaving out an easily accessible food source for ants and other insects.
- Keep Your Property Clean: Removing crumbs and debris will help you to avoid leaving out food for ants accidentally.
- Block Entry Points: Ants can enter your property through even the smallest of cracks, so if you notice holes in your brickwork or gaps that ants could use to enter, fill them in promptly.
- Watch Out For Ants: As soon as you notice ants in your home, you need to contact pest control providers like Pest-Tech to remove the infestation and put preventative measures in place.
Get Rid Of Ants Fast With Pest-Tech
What do ants eat? As this guide shows, ants eat almost anything and are omnivorous with a diverse diet, eating both plant matter and meat from dead insects or decaying carcuses.
Ants can be challenging to remove without expert help. DIY ant control products can be toxic to pets and children, but don’t usually work effectively on ants.
As such, you need to work with pest controllers like Pest-Tech. Our team are experienced in removing ants and safely stop them from causing issues for your Maidstone or Kent-based property.
Alongside ants, we can provide pest control for other insects, including bees, wasps, moths, carpet beetles, silverfish, and more.
If you need expert ant control for your home or business, contact us on 01622 296055 or by emailing admin@pest-tech.org.