Yes, honey ants can eat. They are omnivores, meaning they consume both plant and animal matter.
Honey ants have a diverse diet to sustain themselves and their colony. While the repletes (ants that store honey) are the most famous aspect of their biology, the entire colony needs nourishment.
Here's a breakdown of what honey ants eat:
-
Honeydew: This is a sugary liquid excreted by aphids and other sap-sucking insects. It's a primary food source, and the source of the "honey" stored by repletes.
-
Nectar: Gathered directly from flowers.
-
Insects: Honey ants are predators and scavengers. They will eat dead insects and hunt smaller live insects.
-
Plant Juices: They will extract juices from fruits and other plant parts.
-
Seeds: Some species may consume seeds.
The repletes act as living storage vessels, providing the colony with a consistent food source, particularly during times of scarcity. Worker ants regurgitate food to the repletes, which then store it in their distended abdomens. When food is needed, the repletes regurgitate the honey back to the other ants in the colony.
