Do Ants Eat Bread?

Yes, ants eat bread. Bread is an attractive food source for ants due to its carbohydrate content. Ants need these a good of carbs in their diet to fuel their bodies.

In this article, we’ll learn more about why ants eat bread as we break down what bread provides. We’ll also look into how to keep ants away from bread and other foods in our homes that they’re attracted to.

Why Do Ants Eat Bread?

Ants are opportunistic eaters. They eat whatever food they can get their mandibles on and bread is not an exemption. It also helps that bread provides the following: [1]

Carbohydrates

Bread is a type of starchy food. If there’s one thing it provides, it’s carbohydrates. Ants need these carbohydrates they need to fuel their bodies. 

Carbs are also used as building blocks for chitin. This chitin is a major component of the ant’s exoskeleton.

Lipids and Proteins

While not as nutritious as most food, bread can also provide proteins and lipids. Ants need proteins to build or replace enzymes, hormones, and proteins they need. They also need lipids energy.

Sodium

Bread can also contain sodium. Sodium is important for many physiological functions in insects like ants. It plays a role in maintaining muscle and nerve activity, and fluid balance.

Other Nutrients and Vitamins

Bread can contain minerals and inorganic substances like iron, and calcium. It can also contain vitamins including thiamine (B1), Niacin (B3), and folic acid. These nutrients and vitamins all help ants stay healthy and function properly.

How To Keep Ants Away From Bread

Here are a few tips to keep ants away from bread and other types of food:

• Store bread in airtight containers: Transfer bread to sealed containers. This will prevent ants from detecting the scent of bread and accessing it.

• Keep bread in the refrigerator: Placing bread in the refrigerator works the same way. It prevents detection and access. 

• Clean up: Regularly clean areas where you store bread as crumbs and spills may attract ants. Wipe up spills, sweep or vacuum regularly, and keep countertops and floors free of crumbs.

• Seal entry points: If you keep ants away from your home, you prevent them from getting to your bread. Seal cracks and openings with caulk or weatherstripping.

What Other Foods In Your Home Are Ants Attracted To?

Apart from bread, here are different types of food in our homes that ants are attracted to:

• Sugar: Ants love sugary substances and seek them out as a food source. Like bread, these substances provide them with energy.

• Honey: Honey is another type of sugary substance that ants eat. But more than sugar, it also contains water, vitamins, proteins, and minerals that ants need. See this article to learn why ants eat honey.

• Fruits: Fruits are a common food source for ants. They eat fruits regardless of whether it’s in the wild or in our homes. Like honey, fruits provide a good amount of sugar and other nutrients that help ants stay healthy.

• Meat: Ants require a good amount of protein in their diet. This is especially true for growing larvae. Hence, ants seek out any sort of protein available. These may come in the form of their prey or meat they find in our homes.

See this article to learn more about what ants eat.

Summary: Do Ants Eat Bread?

To summarize, ants do eat bread. Bread is a sugary and starchy food. Ants love to eat them for carbohydrates which they need for energy. Bread also provides other nutrients like lipids, proteins, and vitamins that ants need.