this post was submitted on 28 May 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] WhatAmLemmy 19 points 6 months ago (2 children)

The only time I've smelt ants is when they get crushed. Are you telling me you could smell an ant trail just by walking into a room?

[–] [email protected] 21 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Are you telling me that if you step on an ant and crush it, you can smell it?! Wtf is going on in this thread??

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago
[–] HonoraryMancunian 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

My mind is being blown so much ITT. I don't recall any insect ever having a smell, crushed or otherwise.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Ladybugs have a weird smell when you handle them. Smells a bit like earwax.
Also, from the time when I hatched flies as food animals, flies really stink but you don’t normally notice because you don’t smell it when it’s just one. Put 100 flies in a bucket and they STINK.
No idea what’s going on with the ants though. I’m still not convinced this isn’t a hoax.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Yeah, it’s a weird bitter smell. Can’t really compare it to anything else. Except for the deterrent that ladybugs spray, I suppose.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

I mean, I don't think I can smell them as described, but crushed I can clearly smell the formic acid.

[–] WhatAmLemmy 2 points 6 months ago

I don't mean just stepping on an ant. I mean when you were little and climbing a tree or playing on the ground and crushed some ants, smelled your hand to figure out what it was, and it smelled like ants...

[–] scottywh 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I smell them outdoors from quite a long distance.

[–] WhatAmLemmy 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] scottywh 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

No doubt... It certainly seems useless so far but when the ant wars start you'll all want me on your team.