Are Ants Attracted To Blood?

Yes, ants are attracted to blood. Blood contains many substances that attract ants. These substances include water, sugar, vitamins, and protein. Ants need these substances to function and survive. Because of these substances, ants see blood as an attractive food source.

In this article, we’ll learn more about why ants are attracted to blood as we discuss the following:

What is blood?
Do ants eat blood?
Why are ants attracted to blood?
Are ants attracted to period blood?
Dracula Ants

are ants attracted to blood — Photo by MD_JERRY on Unsplash

What is Blood And What’s In It?

Blood is a circulatory fluid in the bodies of vertebrates. It delivers essential materials to the cells in the body like nutrients and oxygen. It also transports metabolic waste products away. [1]

Blood is composed of blood cells suspended in plasma. This plasma constitutes 55% of blood fluid. This plasma is mostly water, but it also contains the following substances:

Proteins

Blood plasma contains proteins. These proteins have different functions including the transport of lipids, hormones, and vitamins.

Albumin accounts for 55% of plasma protein and globulins which make up 38%. Other proteins include fibrinogen, immunoglobulin, and prothrombin.

Lipids

Blood plasma also contains lipids or fatty substances. These include cholesterol and triglycerides which are used in many metabolic processes.

Sugar

Blood is the medium of transport for respiration. Therefore, it contains glucose, an important sugar that fuels the cells. Diabetics, in particular, may have high amounts of glucose in their blood.

Vitamins

Blood also transports and therefore, contains vitamins. These vitamins are essential nutrients required for various metabolic processes in the body. Vitamins in the blood include vitamins A, E, B6, B12, and folic acid.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals found in blood and different body fluids. They help hydrate the body, regulate nerve function, and rebuild damaged tissue. These electrolytes include sodium, potassium, and chloride.

Urea

Urea is a nitrogen-containing waste product of metabolism usually found in urine. It is transported through the bloodstream prior to filtration by the kidneys.

Do Ants Eat Blood?

Yes, ants eat blood. Blood can serve as a nutritious food source for ants. It provides them with essentials like sugar and protein.

That said, eating blood is not a common behavior in ants. It typically occurs only when food is scarce. Ants usually just feed on other animals, plants, and sugary substances.

Why are Ants Attracted to Blood?

Ants are attracted to blood because of the substances that it contains. These substances are attractive to them as they help them survive and function. Specifically, here’s why ants are attracted to blood and these substances:

Energy Source

Blood can be an attractive energy source due to its glucose content. This glucose plays a major role in respiration. It allows the body to obtain energy to power the cellular processes required to stay alive.

Additionally, blood also contains lipids. Like glucose, these can provide energy. They can also be broken into fatty acids. These acids serve as building blocks for cuticular waxes. They’re also used for the synthesis of certain pheromones and defensive compounds.

Source of Vitamins

Vitamins are essential nutrients that allow ants to function properly and stay healthy. Vitamins A and E for instance, play a role in the synthesis of pigments and reproduction. As antioxidants, they also help in detoxification and protect against infections. [2]

Source of Protein

The urea and proteins in the blood make it a viable source of protein. Ants use these to produce amino acids and other forms of protein as needed.

Source of Sodium

The salts in the blood provide ants with sodium. Ants need sodium for muscular and nerve function. They also need it to maintain fluid balance in their bodies. [3]

It isn’t unusual for ants to seek out sodium. Apart from blood, they’re also attracted to urine and saline solutions.

Water

Water is essential for a number of processes like digestion and respiration. It’s important for growth, development, and survival. Hence, it’s a no-brainer why ants love water.

Most of the time, ants get their water from the moisture in food. However, blood contains water and can be a viable source of water as needed.

Read this article to learn more about why ants are attracted to water.

Are Ants Attracted to Period Blood?

Yes, ants are also attracted to period blood. Period blood is basically still blood. It also contains the substances that attract ants. Furthermore, ants are opportunistic eaters. They aren’t bothered by the decaying material in period blood. In fact, they’d eat these decaying materials as well.

Dracula Ant: Blood-Sucking Ant

Dracula ants are a type of ant found in Madagascar. They get their name after their unique feeding behavior, in which they suck the blood of their own larvae. They exclusively eat hemolymph despite the availability of other prey. [4]

Technically speaking, they eat hemolymph, the arthropod equivalent to blood. It contains similar substances to blood like water, salts, and organic compounds.

Summary: Are Ants Attracted to Blood?

To summarize, ants are attracted to blood. Blood contains substances that ants need to survive. These include water, sugar, urea, and other nutrients.

That said, ants don’t actively seek out blood. They generally only eat blood when it’s readily available or when food is scarce.

Are Ants Attracted To Blood?