Are Ants Attracted To Water?
Yes, ants are attracted to water. Water is essential to ants as it is to other animals. As such, they’re drawn to water and other sources of moisture.
Read on if you’d like to learn more about the following:
- Why ants are attracted to water
- Which ants are particularly attracted to water
- How ants locate and collect water
- Whether ants invade homes for water
- How to prevent ants from invading your water sources
Why Are Ants Attracted To Water?
Water attracts ants because they need it to function and survive. Without it, they can become dehydrated and sometimes dry up completely. [1]
Water also allows ants to fulfill many physiological processes in their bodies. These processes include:
Digestion
Water aids in digestion as a solvent. Due to its chemical composition, it helps break down essential compounds like glucose.
Respiration
While water isn’t actually used in respiration it plays an important role in allowing it to occur. As a solvent, water helps cells transport oxygen, a key part of aerobic respiration.
Molting
Ants undergo molting several times in their life. Through molting, they develop from blind and legless larvae to adult ants.
Water is key to molting. It serves as a mechanism to expand the exoskeleton before hardening. [2]
Other Reasons Why Water May Attract Ants
Ants may seek out water for what’s in it. As a solvent, water can be part of many solutions. In some cases, it may contain other substances that ants need to survive.
Examples of these substances include the following:
Sugar
Ants love sweets and anything with sugar. Sugar is a calorie-dense food source that provides them the energy they need to stay active. Like water, sugar is also a key component to their survival.
Salt
Ants need salt to maintain muscular activity, nerve function, and water balance. Thus, they can be as attracted to saline solutions as they are to sweetened water.
In fact, one study suggests that ants tend to prefer salty food over sweets when they live in salt-poor areas. This is especially true for herbivorous ants which don’t get enough salt from their food. [3]
Other Nutrients and Minerals
Some aqueous solutions may also contain nutrients and minerals vital to ant health. For example, urine contains proteins that ants may break down to produce amino acids. See this article to learn more about ants and urine.
Saliva is also another aqueous solution that contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium. These electrolytes help hydrate the body, regulate nerve function, and rebuild damaged tissues.
Are All Ants Attracted to Water?
All ants are attracted to water, and for good reason. There are some ants though that like water more so than other ants. One example is the moisture ant.
Moisture ants refer to ant species in the Lasius and Acanthomyops genera. These ants need plenty of water to survive and thus habitually nest around moist areas. You’ll often find them infesting damp or decaying wood.
If you see moisture ants in or around your home, there’s a high chance that you may have leaks or water damage. If you want to learn more, see this article about moisture ants.
How Do Ants Find and Collect Water?
While ants definitely need water, they don’t need excessive amounts of it to survive. Most of the time, they get the water they need from the food that they consume. Fluids like sap, nectar, and honeydew all provide ants with enough moisture.
Hence, ants don’t usually forage for water.
It is only in times of scarcity that they will actively look around for water sources. In these times, don’t be surprised if you find ants in your home. They’ll be around leaks, drains, and anywhere with accumulated condensation.
How To Prevent Ants From Invading Your Water Sources
Ants can sometimes become a nuisance. Moisture ants, for example, can speed up the decay of wood and cause damage. Other ants may also raid your food stock after invading your water sources. Therefore, it’s important to keep them in check.
To prevent ants from invading your water sources and home, you need to remove attractants. Essentially you’d need to prevent moisture buildup in your home.
Here are a few tips you can follow:
- Repair and replace leaky pipes
- Check and fix your drainage system
- Remove or replace moist, decaying wood
- Improve ventilation around your house
- Use a dehumidifier
- Keep your floors and counters clean and dry
- Seal cracks and other entry points
Summary
To summarize, ants are attracted to water because they need it to survive. Water plays a role in a number of their physiological processes and allows them to function. Without water, they dry up and die.
Therefore, ants seek out water, especially during the summer or dry seasons. During these times, you may find them at your home as they look for water sources. If left unchecked, they can infest your home and become and nuisance. So it’s best to prevent them by keeping your home clean and dry.
