How can I catch an ant in Animal Crossing?

The only sure-fire away to catch ants (& flies) is to lure them with bait.

Pretty much take a 10-pack of white turnips (which should cost you around 1000 Bells, but the price will vary), a red turnip or even spoiled turnips (regardless of color) & just drop it on the ground. Then just quickly pop in & out of a building before you go back to check them.

You should see a swarm of bugs (not just one bug) all over the turnips. Just hit the turnip with your net to catch an ant. If there's just one bug (most likely a cockroach), catch & release before running back into a building.

You can try using fruit, but it doesn't work as well since it's abundant. Turnips work well as they're uncommon & the bugs desire a change in available food.

Hope that helps!

SUPPLEMENTAL: This tactic works with the original Animal Crossing, but you can use Halloween Candy (which is cheaper) instead... but that's not available in Wild World.

First, you have to really read up on incantations so rains would come - the American Indians are very good on this. It's called the rain dance. Once you've done that, go to the library and read up on the works of Galileo and Isaac Newton. Finish the entire book! Once done, go out and get your self a cotton candy machine. Try and sell the cotton candy and whatever lefover you have, spread them all over yourself.

That should do it. You can do this for 24 hours, but no more. You can do it every other day.

Wait for a turnip to rot, leave it outside, go inside, come back out, and there should be ants crawling all over it.

i haven't caught one on wild world but on the game cube you leave rotten turnips out by your door walk in your house then step out you might get a roach or ants but just keep walking in and out of your house till you do.