Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Do ants smell?


  • Please log in to reply
7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Thunder_Birds - Posted March 12 2020 - 6:17 PM

Thunder_Birds

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 358 posts
  • LocationSouth Dakota

Well, I'm not quite sure what the answer to this question is...I know ants use their antennas to communicate, I know they can't see exactly what we see.....but can they smell? 


#Ants4Life


#2 Offline Nare - Posted March 12 2020 - 6:45 PM

Nare

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 385 posts

Yessir - from what I understand communication occurs partly through pheremone trails which are essentially stinky substances that they pick up with their antennae. So yeah, I'd say they smell.


  • Manitobant and Ants_Dakota like this

#3 Offline ponerinecat - Posted March 12 2020 - 7:27 PM

ponerinecat

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,650 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Ants can be very smelly. They can do things like make my nose itch or even make my lungs feel like they got sanded with a power grinder.


  • Ants_Dakota likes this

#4 Offline Thunder_Birds - Posted March 12 2020 - 8:36 PM

Thunder_Birds

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 358 posts
  • LocationSouth Dakota

Yessir - from what I understand communication occurs partly through pheremone trails which are essentially stinky substances that they pick up with their antennae. So yeah, I'd say they smell.

Ok, cool. So, do you think ants smell with their antennae? :lol:


#Ants4Life


#5 Offline TheMicroPlanet - Posted March 13 2020 - 5:00 AM

TheMicroPlanet

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 764 posts
  • LocationNew York, United States

 

Yessir - from what I understand communication occurs partly through pheremone trails which are essentially stinky substances that they pick up with their antennae. So yeah, I'd say they smell.

Ok, cool. So, do you think ants smell with their antennae? :lol:

 

Probably. From what I understand, ant antennae are lined with chemical receptors to discern pheromones. 


  • Manitobant, Ants_Dakota and Thunder_Birds like this

#6 Offline Thunder_Birds - Posted March 13 2020 - 6:09 AM

Thunder_Birds

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 358 posts
  • LocationSouth Dakota

Interesting! Aren't ants just amazing insects, and so complex?


  • AntsDakota likes this

#Ants4Life


#7 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 13 2020 - 6:47 AM

AntsDakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,994 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota
That’s why we love ‘em.
  • Ants_Dakota and Thunder_Birds like this

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#8 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 13 2020 - 8:11 AM

Ants_Dakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,059 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

That’s why we love ‘em.

that is exactly right. Most people don't like ants because they seem boring, while in reality, they are so complex that there are still some unknowns about them, such as smell.


  • AntsDakota likes this

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users