Anteaters Prefer Termites to Ants—Here's Why
Despite being called "anteaters," these long-snouted mammals actually have a secret preference: they like termites better than ants. Research on giant anteaters shows that termites often make up 60-85% of their diet in many regions, even when ants are readily available. It's like being named "Pizza Pete" but secretly ordering tacos most of the time.
The preference makes sense when you consider the menu from an anteater's perspective. Termites tend to have softer bodies and fewer chemical defenses than many ant species. Some ants pack a painful bite or spray formic acid, making them the spicy buffalo wings of the insect world. Termites, by comparison, are like mild chicken nuggets—easier to eat in bulk.
Geography Is Destiny
Where an anteater lives dramatically shapes what it eats. In Brazil's Cerrado region, termites dominate the diet at nearly 70% of consumed prey. But in Venezuela and Argentina's Iberá wetlands, ants take center stage. The difference? Local availability.
During wet seasons in flooded areas like the Pantanal, ant colonies thrive on higher ground while termite mounds get waterlogged. Anteaters adapt by switching to an ant-heavy diet. When the dry season returns, termite populations boom in the grasslands, and anteaters happily switch back to their preferred prey.
The Art of Selective Eating
Anteaters are surprisingly picky eaters. They sample dozens of nests daily but spend only about a minute at each one, slurping up roughly 140 insects before moving on. This prevents them from destroying colonies and ensures future meals.
Research has identified three factors driving their food choices:
- Defense strategies – Soldiers with nasty chemical weapons or powerful mandibles get a hard pass
- Nest accessibility – Hard-to-crack mounds aren't worth the energy
- Nutritional value – Some termite species pack more protein and fat
- Colony size – Bigger colonies mean more food per raid
Studies even found sex differences in diet: male giant anteaters ate about 58% termites and 42% ants, while females went nearly 84% termite. Whether this reflects different nutritional needs during pregnancy or just individual preference remains a mystery.
Why the Misleading Name?
The name "anteater" likely stuck because early European naturalists first observed these animals raiding ant nests, which are often more visible than subterranean termite colonies. By the time scientists realized termites were often the preferred prey, the name had already been printed in books, shipped worldwide, and immortalized in taxonomy.
Today, scientists prefer the more accurate term myrmecophage, from Greek words meaning "ant-eater"—which, ironically, still emphasizes the wrong prey. Perhaps "termite-preferring-insectivore" was too much of a mouthful, even for scientists.
