It may take them several days to reach their final color. Food Most ants that are easy to keep in the classroom are generalists, eating a variety of small insects that they capture, dead insects they happen to find, nectar, or honey dew. They need a balance of carbohydrates and protein. Protein is especially needed for the queen to make eggs and for the larvae to grow. Most ant species live in the soil.
Some ants live in cavities made inside plants, such as acorns, twigs, and galls.
Bats, birds, and occasionally, people capture and kill or eat the flying males and females. Since ants are social they display many behaviors that remind us of our families and society. For example, worker ants take care of larvae by feeding and washing them. Ants are able to communicate with each other. Impact on the Ecosystem Positive World wide, ants are one of the most important predators on small invertebrates, including other insects.