Why Do Ants Like Sugar?
WouterAmong the many insects that are attracted to sugar are the Crazy ants, Pavement ants, and Odorous house ants. Sugar is a dense, calorie-dense food source that provides ants with energy. It is important to ants, as they need a high energy food to stay active.
Sugar contains more energy than comparable sources of carbohydrates. Sugar is also lightweight, making it easier for ants to transport. It also stimulates the ant’s gustatory receptors.
Sugar ants are often found in kitchen cabinets and sinks. They are also attracted to leaky pipes and bathrooms. Typically, when sugar ants enter a home, they will leave a chemical trail that leads other ants to the food source.
The National Geographic Society conducted a study to determine which type of food ants prefer. The experiment involved offering ants a choice between salt and sugar. The researchers tested ants from around the world.
The study’s results showed that ants living near the ocean preferred salt solutions, while those living inland preferred sugar solutions. Salt helps maintain proper water balance in the body. It is also essential for animals to maintain nerve and muscle activity.
Researchers are now planning to see if spraying salt on the forest floor will increase the activity of the ecosystem. They suspect that this could result in more carbon dioxide being released.
Besides studying the sugar versus salt preference of ants, researchers also want to find out if the preference holds for all microbes.
