Why Can’t Ants Walk Over Ink?
WouterAmong the questions that have been raised about ants is why can’t ants walk over ink? Ants do not have good vision so they can’t see through ink. Ants also have very soft legs, and this makes it hard for them to keep their balance while passing through pen circles.
When an ant gets trapped in a pen circle, it struggles to find a way out. The pheromone chemical helps it know which direction to go. However, a pen circle can disrupt this chemical. It also interferes with the pheromone trail, so ants have to take a different route to get out.
Eventually, ants will be able to cross the pen circle. But if the pen circle is shaped like an arc, they will not be able to. Some bugs find it difficult to escape from the pen circle, and others will die due to exhaustion.
Various chemicals contained in pen inks can also act as ant repellents. For example, fountain pen ink contains xylene and methylbenzene. These chemicals can disrupt a pheromone trail, and they also dissolve other chemicals. Hence, they prevent ants from crossing the pen circle.
Another chemical that can act as an ant repellent is borax. It can be mixed with shortening or lard to form a crumbly bait. The substance can also be mixed with powdered sugar to make a laundry booster. This can be used for cleaning the house, and it can be a good way to get rid of bugs and ants.
