Which of the following pests is primarily attracted to food residues?

Ants are primarily attracted to food residues because they have a strong sense of smell that helps them locate food sources. Their foraging behavior is largely driven by the need to find nourishment, which typically includes sugary substances, proteins, and fats found in food leftovers. Ants are social insects that communicate with one another to lead their colony to food sources, often forming long trails to food residues. This attraction to food makes them common pests in homes and commercial environments, where food particles may be present.

In contrast, fleas are external parasites that primarily feed on the blood of their hosts, not on food residues. Spiders are predators that primarily hunt other insects and are not driven by the presence of food remains in the same way ants are. Wasps can be attracted to sugary substances, particularly in late summer, but they are more opportunistic feeders and are generally less concerned with food residues compared to ants. Thus, the behavior and feeding habits of ants clearly position them as the pests primarily attracted to food residues.