What do ants eat?

An ant 'tending' to its aphids.

The diet of ant varies widely from species to species. Whilst some ants eat solely nectar, others may be predatory and eat other insects such as flies, beetle eggs and wasps.  However, a large amount of ants eat honeydew through a process called 'aphid farming'. Ants have a mutualistic relationship with tiny insects called aphids. These aphids eat the sugary fluid from the plant phloem. They then excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which is effectively 'aphid feces'. Ants stimulate the release of this honeydew by rubbing their antennae on the aphids. In return, the ants provide the aphids with protection from other predatory insects.

Leafcutter Ants carrying vegetation back to their nest.

Ants also enjoy eating fungi. So much so, that they actually farm the fungi in their nests. Fungi-eating ants are called Attine ants and there are more than 230 species of them. Leafcutter ants are a popular type of attine ant. They use leaves and other vegetation as a substrate for their fungi-growing activities.