Not just crushed ants, I smell it when they’re scared and running, but undamaged, as well. Calm ants though, they don’t smell to me. I always assumed it was a warning chemical to other ants, or a deterrent for predators with more sensitive sniffers than I.
Are we talking formic acid from crushed ants or just there is an ant around and they can smell it?
Not just crushed ants, I smell it when they’re scared and running, but undamaged, as well. Calm ants though, they don’t smell to me. I always assumed it was a warning chemical to other ants, or a deterrent for predators with more sensitive sniffers than I.
Exactly, ants literally spray formic acid at anything that threatens them
I smell it either way but it’s stronger when they’re crushed.
That’s true of most animals
Sometimes science do be cruel like that