How Far Ants Can Smell
WouterUnlike many insects, ants have an impressive sense of smell. They can detect short molecules, as well as food and other chemicals.
Ants have olfactory receptors located on the long antennae, which allow them to pick up pheromones and other scents. These receptors are necessary for survival. They allow ants to identify their caste members and predators.
Some ants have the ability to detect food odors from as far away as 3.3 meters. They have also been found to detect low volatility compounds with high precision.
Besides food, ants are also able to smell the odor of dead insects. They are also known to release alarm pheromones when confronted with enemies.
One of the main challenges of ant control is controlling ants’ behavior. Ants are highly social insects. They can form extremely organized colonies. They also use pheromones to communicate with other ants and with other insects.
Ants are also known to leave behind a pheromone trail when they find food. Other ants can follow this trail to the food source. However, ants that are looking for food will use their antennae to locate the source of the food.
They can also detect the odor of sugar. Unlike most insects, ants can smell sugar from more than 10 meters away. They also can smell the odor of honey.
A study from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology showed that ants have a sophisticated sense of smell. They can smell a sweet odor that is triggered by the application of a chemical.
