Best Foods to Feed Ants

Most ants are omnivores that need two things: carbohydrates (sugars) for energy and protein to raise their young. Adult workers run on sweet liquids — nectar, honeydew, and sugar water — while the larvae need insects and other protein to grow.

But not every ant follows that rule. Harvester ants live mainly on seeds, leafcutter ants farm fungus instead of eating their food directly, and some predatory species will only take live prey. That’s why there’s no single answer to what do ants eat — the right diet depends on the species you’re keeping.

Use the lookup below to find exactly what to feed yours — and just as importantly, what to avoid, since citrus, pesticide-exposed insects, and sugary store-bought drinks can all harm a colony.

How to use it: type your ant’s name — a genus like Camponotus, a common name like “carpenter ant,” or a full species like Messor barbarus — to see its ideal foods, protein and sugar sources, and what to keep away from it.

Covers ant groups that are kept or have documented feeding behaviour. Diets vary by species and brood stage — use as a starting framework, not absolute rules.