How Much Water Do Ants Drink?

Using data from five adult colonies of Pogonomyrmex barbatus, researchers tested whether ants’ behavior is influenced by water availability and hydration status. Using an iButton (a device that measures body temperature, relative humidity, and pulse rate), researchers measured ants’ fluid intake rates and recorded their foraging behavior.

The first thing to know is that ants do not drink large quantities of water. In fact, an ant’s water intake is usually around seven microliters.

The second thing to know is that while ants can drink a lot of water, they do not go to watering holes on a regular basis. Instead, they draw water from the air through capillary action. This means that the amount of water they drink depends on their body weight.

The third thing to know is that the hydration status of the colony is important. The number of foraging trips made by the hydrated ants is about 1.29-fold higher than those made by the unhydrated ants. The hydrated ants also made a lot more trips in hot weather.

The third thing to know is that foragers are especially sensitive to water loss. This is why ants may leave their nests in search of water. This is especially true for small founding colonies.

The biggest growth spurts occur in the late spring/early summer of the second year. This is because the queen’s flight time is adjusted to accommodate the ant’s growth rate.

The hydration status of the colony is also important for foragers because it affects their response to heat and humidity. The number of foraging trips made by hydrated ants is about 3125, compared to 2652 for unhydrated ants.