Overview
Fire ants feed on insects and arthropods as well as small birds, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles. These food sources satisfy the protein requirements in the colony so the queens can produce eggs and the brood can develop.
Fire ants also collect and feed on oily seeds such as walnuts, peanuts and sunflowers. These seeds help fulfill the colony’s requirements for fat and protein.
In addition, fire ants eat the honeydew produced by leaf-sucking insects such as aphids, mealybugs and scale insects. Honeydew is composed of sugars and water; it is the by-product of undigested plant sap that is excreted by the insects. It provides a source of quick energy for all members of the ant colony.
Fire ants have also been known to feed on seed pods, tubers (roots) and fruits. But they tend to avoid foods that contain chocolate, molasses, citrus or other aromatic oils. It is thought that these foods contain substances that are unattractive or possibly toxic to the ants.
Because fire ants eat all these different kinds of foods, they are called omnivorous. Fire ants must have a constant source of water. If necessary, they will dig tunnels down to the water table to bring water to the colony. Fire ants also need plenty of moisture in the soil so it stays relatively cool in summer and allows the mound to hold together.
Fire ants tend to look for protein-rich foods throughout the year, but especially in spring and early fall. During hot, dry summers or cold winters fire ants seek out sources of sugars for energy. They will also reduce the production of eggs and offspring to conserve energy during these stressful times.
