Wow! Urban ants love junk food

Some ants on the streets of Manhattan have developed a taste for junk food, offering insight into why certain species are thriving in urban environments, a new study has found. The findings stem from a study that tested isotope levels in New York City ants to determine the makeup of their diet. "We wanted to learn more about why some ant species are able to live alongside us, on sidewalks or in buildings, while other species stay on the outskirts of human development," said Dr Clint Penick, lead author of a paper on the work and a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University. "This could also help us determine which species are doing the most to clean up our trash," said Penick.