Can Ants Overdose on Sugar?
WouterWhether ants overdose on sugar is a mystery. Many scientists have been using insects as a model for human drug addiction. They have found that some social insects are dependent on drugs.
The problem is that the studies are done on animals and not on humans. This is a shame. It would be much more ethical to study the effects of drug addiction on humans. There is also a huge need for more research on this topic.
Ants have a very sweet tooth. These insects will go after anything that smells sweet. They will eat sweet foods like jelly, syrup, and powdered sugar. The antennae on the ant’s head provide them with a sense of taste, smell, and touch.
Sugar ants live in burrows under plant debris and pavement cracks. They have powerful mandibles and antennae that never stop wiggling. They are also sensitive to honeydew and other sweet foods. They will return to the same place when food is available.
They will use their mandibles for tasks such as chewing food, and carry dead insects for themselves. They also spit out fatty secretions when food is scarce.
If they do not find sugar in time, they will dehydrate. This can be harmful to the colony and they may die.
If they do not get to the sugar spill, they may die from dehydration. They also may suffer from infection, gangrene, and septic shock. During treatment, the slow death can take days or even weeks.
