Ants are a constant battle for me, especially with outdoor cages. Years ago, I had a clutch of baby Veileds and ants kept getting into their cages. At feeding time one day, I just so happened to see one baby zap up an ant and it began violently shaking its head back and forth while rubbing it open mouth and tongue on a branch. Ants have chemical defenses such as formic acid and they aren't too tasty. None of my baby Veileds living outside right now will touch them. I think they all try them at some point at least once, but quickly learn to avoid them.