Welcome back to the world of ants. Ants are omnivores, feeding on seeds, fungi, nectar, insects, and sometimes animal remains. Over millions of years, they have organized and perfected their feeding practices into true expertise.

In nature, ants find their sugar supply not only in flowers or fruits but also by cultivating aphids.

Ants like Camponotus piceus, which primarily inhabit central and southern Europe, collect nectar from plants. They belong to the group of floricultural insects, which directly feed on nectar or pollen. These ants live in harmony with plants, protecting them from parasites. Additionally, they aid in pollen dispersal as they move from one plant to another.

However, some ants don’t rely solely on what plants provide. They take matters into their own hands by directly raising aphids. This practice is known as entomoculture. These ants collect honeydew secreted by small insects, much like how humans raise cattle. These aphid farms are fiercely defended against any insects that might want to feast on their honey-filled cattle. 

Ants are not only vegetarians. Most colonies require protein intake.

To satisfy their protein needs, ants go hunting. Some species are fierce huntresses. This is for example the case for ants of the Trap Jaw Ant family (also known as Chelifer). Their formidable mandibles can close in 0.13 milliseconds on their prey, a speed faster than a bullet fired from a rifle!

Unlike most ant species, the Trap Jaws like most Ponerinae ants, are solitary hunters. They are found in tropical regions of the Southern Hemisphere.Their nests house only a few dozen or a few hundred individuals. 

Legionary ants (Ecitoninae, Aenictinae, Dorylinae) are of an extreme nature. They consume all sources of protein they encounter during their foraging journeys.

Other ants hunt termites, while some, like the Dracula ant, also known as Adetomyrma venatrix, feed on the blood of their own larvae.

This species is very unique as generally ants use proteins to feed their larvae and their queen(s).

However, these species are exceptions in the ant kingdom. Most ants fulfill their protein needs by being scavengers. They collect dead insects or animals and bring them back to the anthill. Hunting remains occasional and a matter of opportunity..

If you thought that humans invented agriculture, you’d make a mistake. Ants are likely the first farmers in the history of our planet. They collect plant material, transform it, or use it as a boost for plant growth.

These tireless workers play a leading role in myrmecochory. They transport seeds back to their nests, attracted by the nutrient-rich elaiosomes attached to the seeds. In doing so, they sow life, dispersing plants across the Earth’s surface. This process is the result of a remarkable evolutionary symbiosis.

Myrmecochory is not merely a simple interaction. It is a pillar of biodiversity. By dispersing seeds, ants contribute to forest regeneration and the creation of new ecosystems, shaping the face of our planet. Ants provide an invaluable service to the living world.

Some propose the idea that ants that collect seeds, such as Messor Barbarus, are a kind of proto-fungus-cultivating ant species because they also control fermentation. In their underground granaries, seed fermentation occurs through precise temperature and humidity management. The seeds are coated with digestive saliva until they form a “bread” that the ants can ingest and share among themselves. Additionally the stored antbread is much more durable than the fresh seeds. It serves as a perfect source of food for the winter when there is nothing fresh to collect outside.

Subgenuses Atta or Acromyrmex ants thrive in Central and South America. They are commonly known as “Leafcutter Ants”, but also go by names like “Fungus Farmers”, “Defoliators”, or even “Parasol Ants”. Behind these nicknames lies a fascinating reality.

These ants meticulously cut pieces of leaves, which they then transport back to their anthills. Their efficiency is astounding—they carry an average of 300 kilograms of plant material annually. They can even strip a tree of its foliage in one night. The horror of every human farmer.

On their return journey, you can witness this peculiar procession of green parasols or leaf surfers. The ants carry leaf fragments up to six times their own weight. While their anatomy could allow them to bear heavier loads, doing so would slow them down.

Back at the nest, they use the leaves as both a substrate and fertilizer, enabling the fungus to thrive. This fungus serves as both habitat and a vital food source. Over a time period of around 30 Million years the fungus and the ants have evolved in a way where one cannot exist without the other. Its a so called mutualism. A type of symbiosis that is mandatory. 

From a human perspective, this social organization appears to be one of the most sophisticated in the animal kingdom. It’s quite literally a renewable agricultural system. The fungus provides shelter and sustenance, and it is optimally exploited by these remarkable ants.

Ants have had over a hundred million years to perfect their organization. Their bodies are a marvelous mechanism adapted for social life.

The workers responsible for provisioning have two stomachs. The larger organ serves as a “community” reservoir where the ant stores the food it consumes in liquid form. Upon returning to the nest, it shares this nourishment with the queen, larvae, or any other ant through a process called trophallaxis.

The workers also possess another stomach called the crop, or “individual” stomach. When the ant itself needs food, a portion of the contents from the larger stomach is transferred to the crop and then digested.

Ants play an important role in our ecosystem. They allow the soil to breath, moderate insect populations, help with seed spreading and of course they also serve as food for many different species. They contribute to the health and diversity of our environment. By observing these exceptional creatures more closely, we understand the importance of each species, even the smallest ones, in maintaining the balance of our planet.