My brother needs information on what type of food ants eat. Can you help? Please give out any information about what they eat, how they reacte to the types of food, etc...
Please help. Tahnk you.
2006-12-12 07:18:29 · 8 answers · asked by GG 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Prez say ant eat everything. Prez say anything with sugar. Prez say bread. Prez say eggs. Prez say candy cane. Prez say chocolate. Prez say rice. Prez say anything with curry.
Prez better know
2006-12-12 07:20:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Leafcutter ants (Atta and Acromyrmex) feed exclusively on a special fungus that lives only within their colonies. They continually collect leaves which they cut into tiny pieces for the fungus to grow on. These ants have several differently sized castes especially for cutting up the pieces they are supplied with into even smaller pieces. Leaf cutter ants are sensitive enough to adapt to the fungi's reaction to different plant material, apparently detecting chemical signals from the fungus. If a particular type of leaf is toxic to the fungus the colony will no longer collect it. The ants grow the fungus because it produces special structures called gongylidia which are fed on by the ants. They create antibiotics on their skin, and subsist entirely on this farming of the fungus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ants
The best foods for harvester ants are small pieces of fresh fruits and vegetables. Celery, Apple, Lettuce, work real well because they are not real "mushy" and sticky. Don't overfeed the ants. They only need 2 or 3 small pieces every two days. After two days if the food has not been completely eaten remove it. This will keep mold from growing in the habitat that could harm your ants. Another good thing to feed ants is sugar water.
http://www.infowest.com/life/anttips.htm
2006-12-12 07:19:24 · answer #2 · answered by Melli 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Ants feed on many different types of food. Some species will feed on practically anything; others may limit their food to a narrow range. Ants infesting structures are typically feeding on "people food," both food in storage (sugar, cakes, cookies, breakfast cereals, etc.) and food from spills and garbage. But they may also be preying on other insects or scavenging on dead insects in windows or lights.
Food preferences are often seasonal. When the queen is actively laying eggs, worker ants typically gather protein- based foods for the queen. At other times they may ignore protein foods completely and restrict their foraging to sugars and greases.
Many ants obtain sugar by feeding on honeydew, a sweet substance secreted by aphids and other plant-sucking insects. They often defend these insects from predators and tend them as if they were their personal food supply. Indoor infestations of ants are occasionally traced to large populations of aphids on outdoor foundation plants or indoor houseplants.
2006-12-12 07:23:40 · answer #3 · answered by Geek Girl 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Ants eat cellulouse from wood,and the chlorophyl from plants and leaves and any liquid with sugar in it. They also eat other insects including there own... Good Luck...
2006-12-12 07:22:43 · answer #4 · answered by rush 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sugar
2006-12-12 07:19:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Here are a few sites that offer good information on the subject:
http://www.antnest.co.uk/diet.html
http://ant.edb.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/BE/Kingdom/0405/0405e.html
Hope it helps!
Happy Holidays!!
2006-12-12 07:24:39 · answer #6 · answered by pillowtalk504 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, I won't do the research for you but here's a link to wikipedia for Ants.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ants
2006-12-12 07:19:48 · answer #7 · answered by Flibbert 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They eat seeds, Plants, dead things, fungi,
I don't know the whole reaction to them except they become full.
2006-12-12 07:20:01 · answer #8 · answered by Not Known To Me. The Voter ;~`}= 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋