Do you ever notice a faint musty smell when you enter an old house? That smell is caused by ants! Ants produce chemicals called pheromones which they use to communicate with each other. These pheromones can also be detected by humans.
A study published in the journal Science found that humans can actually distinguish between different types of ants based on their smell. In the study participants were asked to smell four different types of ants and identify them by name. The participants were able to correctly identify the ants more than 50% of the time.
The ability to smell ants is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation. It is thought that early humans used to live in trees and that being able to smell ants would have helped them avoid being bitten by them.
There are over 12000 species of ants and they are found all over the world. So if you ever notice a strange smell in your house there’s a good chance that there are ants nearby!
What is the smallest type of ant?
The smallest type of ant is the dwarf ant.
How many different types of ants are there?
There are more than 12000 different types of ants.
Do all ants sting?
Some ants have a stinger but not all of them do.
What do ants use their stinger for?
ants use their stinger for defense and to kill prey.
How do ants communicate?
Ants communicate by releasing chemicals called pheromones.
How do ants see?
Ants have compound eyes made up of several thousand small lenses.
How do ants smell?
Ants have antennas that they use to smell.
How do ants taste?
Ants have taste receptors on their feet.
How do ants hear?
Ants have special hearing organs on their legs.
What do ants eat?
Ants eat a variety of things including other insects nectar and dead animals.
Where do ants live?
Ants live in nests that they build themselves.
How long do ants live?
The average lifespan of an ant is about 45 days.
How many ants are in a colony?
A colony of ants can have up to millions of ants.
What is the queen ant?
The queen ant is the largest ant in the colony and the only one that can lay eggs.
What is the difference between a male and female ant?
Male and female ants have different roles in the colony.
The male ants’ job is to mate with the queen and the female ants’ job is to do everything else.
