Can Ants Drink Coca-Cola?
WouterBesides being the largest selling beverage in the world, Coca-Cola has another use – killing ants. The ant is a social wasp from the family Formicidae. It has a high-definition sense of smell and taste. It is attracted to sweet-scented foods, as well as dirty laundry and greasy objects.
While not everyone has a problem with ants, they can be an annoyance when they are in large numbers. Coke is a cheap and effective pesticide. It is often used in gardening as well.
It is believed that the ant-killing cocktail of acids, chemicals, and caffeine in coke is responsible for its ability to do the deed. Other pesticides, like vinegar, can also work as well.
The biggest issue is that ants do not actually ingest the coke. Instead, they expel waste through a single hole. The liquid passes through their digestive system and is destroyed by stomach acid.
Although the ant-killing capabilities of soda have been debated, the beverage is effective against several pests, including ants. It is also effective against mealybugs and slugs.
However, the real reason why ants like to drink coke is not clear. Ants may be attracted to the beverage because it is a sweet-smelling drink. A study conducted by Paul & Roces (2003) showed that ants could drink as much as 35 microliters of water in a single sitting. However, the threshold for sucrose could be set during the larval stage or even randomly during adulthood.
