Key Takeaways:

• Candy, bread, meat and peanut butter give ants access to sugars, starches, proteins and fats.
• Crumbs and sticky food residue can attract ants even when the food itself is stored away.
• Aphids on houseplants produce sugary honeydew that can feed ants without anything being left out in your kitchen.
• Repeated ant activity along cupboard edges and small gaps can help you trace their access routes.
• Carpenter ants can damage wood by hollowing it out to build their nests.
• Slow-acting baits let worker ants carry treatment back to the colony, beyond the ants you can see.
• Identifying the species matters, as unsuitable spray treatments can spread pharaoh ant infestations.

Spotted a trail of ants wandering around your kitchen? Ants are a common pest in Ontario homes as they enjoy eating human and non-human food while being sheltered from rain, snow and predators.

In today’s post, we’ll be looking at what five common foods draw ants into your home and proper ant control tips that stop them from being a nuisance.

Why are Ants Pests?

Ants are a nuisance because they not only look unappealing in a home but can also transport germs across your house. Unlike some other pests, most ants commonly found in Ontario homes aren’t aggressive, although some species can bite or sting.

The problem with ants is their number, as a large colony of ants can grow very quickly and consequently cause structural damage to parts of your home. Some species of ants, like carpenter ants, are notorious for this. In fact, there is even one case of carpenter ants causing a Windsor homeowner’s window to fall out. These types of ants create their colonies inside the woodwork of your home and will shape it to suit their needs. Over time, this damage can accumulate and cause weakness in your walls, roofs and flooring.

Whether they are just a nuisance or a bigger threat to your home, it is always a good idea to take preventative measures to keep ants out of your home. This starts with cutting down their access to food.

Ant Eating Habits

Just like humans, ants have a fairly varied diet and will eat a wide range of foods. However, the general diet of an ant comes down to three types of food:

• Protein
• Sugar
• Fat

Most ant species aren’t picky eaters. For example, ants such as pharaoh ants will eat nearly anything they can find, whether that’s candy, meat or vegetables. Their easy-going attitude to food means your kitchen and dining areas are a huge attraction for ants. So without further ado, here are:

The Top 5 Foods in Your Home That Ants Love to Eat

1. Candy

A number one food choice for ants is candy or sweets. Like humans, candy and sweets are a strong source of sugar, a form of carbohydrate that gives us plenty of fast-acting energy. They can also get this quick energy from other sweet foods like juice, cakes, and fruits.

It isn’t just the taste of these sugary snacks that draws ants in for dinner. Ants have to work hard carrying items sometimes bigger than their own body and are constantly on the move, so candy gives them a fast, reliable source of energy to power them through their day.

2. Bread

Bread might not be the most appetizing item in your kitchen, but many species of ants will happily eat it. Similar to candy, bread contains fast-acting carbohydrates that give them energy for their tasks.

To make sure your bread is free from ant intruders, keep it sealed in a plastic bag. Ants not only enjoy the bread itself, but also the crumbs left around the house. Breadcrumbs can easily get on floors and surfaces, so make sure you regularly vacuum, wipe or sweep these areas after eating to prevent the ants from feeding off your home.

3. Meat

While you might not assume ants to be carnivorous (meat-eaters), many species will happily chow down on any meat from sausages and hams to beef and chicken. They are naturally omnivorous, and because meat contains plenty of fats and protein, it’s an easy meal for them.

The good news is that meat isn’t typically easy for ants to access as it is stored in the refrigerator. However, they will still attempt to find scraps on your floor, under your dining table and around your garbage. Take action by keeping meat securely stored in your refrigerator, washing dishes daily, and regularly throwing out the garbage.

4. Peanut Butter

Ants seek food that contains a source of sugar, protein, or fat. Nut butters are a perfect combination of all three, and ants will easily be attracted to this excellent source of nutrition.

Like meat and candy, keeping stored peanut butter out of an ant’s reach is fairly easy, as they are well-packaged compared to looser items like bread. The problem with these foods is that they come into contact with more surfaces. Peanut butter is a sticky substance that will cling to countertops, knives and forks, and plates. You can prevent ants from finding and eating your nut butters by regularly washing up cutlery and plates after use. Avoid leaving them on the counter to wash later as this gives ants the opportunity to find their food first.

5. Other Insects & Honeydew from Aphids

Although many homeowners don’t like to admit it, there are insects and bugs that can be found in your home. This is especially true if your home is older and you are located in a rural area. Many are harmless and actually help keep insects away, like house spiders.

Some household bugs are more difficult to manage and are a nuisance in your home. Aphids, small insects that love to eat the sap of household plants, not only make your houseplants slowly die but are also perfect food for ants because of their sugary secretions (honeydew).

So, even if the food in your kitchen is properly stored away and yet you still find ants in your home, your houseplants might be the source of the problem. You can put an end to it by fixing the aphid problem through using store-bought sprays, carefully washing the plant in a mild solution of dish soap and water, or even taking it temporarily outside for aphid predators like ladybugs.

Identifying Ant Activity Near Food

One ant beside your coffee maker might seem like a stray visitor, but it could be a scout searching for the colony’s next meal. You don’t need to wait for a crowded countertop to investigate.

Watch Where They Go

Before disturbing the ants, spend a few minutes watching their movements. Are they gathering around a jar lid, disappearing behind a cabinet, or travelling through a gap around a pipe? Ants leave scent trails that help other workers find food, so repeated trips along the same route can reveal where they’re getting access.

Look Beyond the Obvious Spots

Use a flashlight to check cupboard corners, shelf edges and the spaces beneath appliances. You may spot ants travelling through these areas even when none are visible on your counters.

Take a close-up photo and note where you found them. These details can help a pest control technician identify the ants and investigate their route. Finding ants near food doesn’t necessarily mean their nest is in your kitchen.

Safe Indoor Ant Control Methods

Reaching for a spray can feel like the quickest answer when ants appear indoors. However, choosing the wrong treatment can make some infestations harder to manage.

Use Bait Carefully

Enclosed ant bait stations allow workers to collect a slow-acting treatment and carry it back to the colony. Choose a product registered by Health Canada for indoor ant control, and follow its label directions.

Place stations near active routes, away from food preparation surfaces and out of reach of children and pets. Avoid spraying ants that are feeding on bait, as they need to return to the nest for the treatment to work.

Identify the Ants Before Treating

Some ants need a different approach. For example, spraying pharaoh ants can cause a colony to split (or “bud”) and establish additional nests elsewhere in your home.

If you’re unsure which ants you have, get them identified before applying a treatment. This helps you avoid repeated applications of a product that won’t solve the problem.

Ant Control & Extermination Solutions in Southern Ontario

Covering everywhere in Southern Ontario and the GTA from downtown Toronto and Mississauga to Orillia and Collingwood, GreenLeaf Pest Control has the eco-conscious ant pest control solution to any ant problem. If you are concerned about an ant infestation and preventive measures aren’t working, give us a call today. We are more than happy to help keep your property free from ants for good!

Frequently Asked Questions About Ants & What Attracts Them

What is an ant’s worst enemy?

Ants have several natural enemies, including other ants, spiders, insect-eating birds and ground beetles. There is no single predator that poses the greatest threat to every species. In your home, introducing predators won’t reliably control an infestation. Effective treatment needs to address the colony responsible for the ants you’re seeing. 

What gets rid of ants immediately?

Vacuuming ants or wiping them up with a sponge and soapy water removes the workers you can see immediately. Dispose of the collected ants promptly. This gives you quick relief around food areas, but it leaves the nest untouched, so more workers may appear until the source is addressed. 

What do ants absolutely hate?

There is no household substance that all ants universally avoid. Cinnamon, citrus peels, Diatomaceous earth, and essential oils are often suggested, but they don’t reliably eliminate colonies. Different species respond differently, which is why a remedy that seems to discourage ants in one home may do very little in another. 

What attracts ants quickly?

Accessible sugary foods, like honey, syrup and spilled juice, can quickly attract foraging ants. Grease, meat scraps and pet food also appeal to certain species. Once a worker discovers a useful food source, it can leave a chemical trail that brings other ants to the same spot. 

What won’t ants cross?

A clean, continuous sticky barrier, such as double-sided tape around a plant stand’s legs, can stop ants from crossing that route. However, dust, debris or another access point can make the barrier ineffective. Use it as temporary protection for a specific item while you investigate where the ants are coming from.

Why should you not squish ants?

Squishing individual ants does little to control an infestation because most colony members remain hidden in the nest. If ants are feeding on bait, killing them also prevents them from carrying it back to other colony members. Leave bait-feeding workers undisturbed and follow the treatment instructions. 

What smell will make ants go away?

No smell reliably makes an entire ant colony leave your home. Wiping an established trail with diluted vinegar can temporarily disrupt activity, but the ants may find another route. Persistent ants in an Ontario home need an inspection to identify their entry points and determine whether they’re nesting indoors.