{"id":71,"date":"2021-08-23T06:30:55","date_gmt":"2021-08-22T22:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/?p=71"},"modified":"2023-09-19T20:26:35","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T12:26:35","slug":"are-ants-attracted-to-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Ants Attracted To Water?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Yes, ants are attracted to water. Water is essential to ants as it is to other animals. As such, they\u2019re drawn to water and other sources of moisture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on if you\u2019d like to learn more about the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Why ants are attracted to water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which ants are particularly attracted to water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How ants locate and collect water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether ants invade homes for water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to prevent ants from invading your water sources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-b2-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"are ants attracted to water\" class=\"wp-image-3156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-b2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-b2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-b2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-b2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Why_Are_Ants_Attracted_To_Water\" title=\"Why Are Ants Attracted To Water?\">Why Are Ants Attracted To Water?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Digestion\" title=\"Digestion\">Digestion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Respiration\" title=\"Respiration\">Respiration<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Molting\" title=\"Molting\">Molting<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Other_Reasons_Why_Water_May_Attract_Ants\" title=\"Other Reasons Why Water May Attract Ants\">Other Reasons Why Water May Attract Ants<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Sugar\" title=\"Sugar\">Sugar<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Salt\" title=\"Salt\">Salt<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Other_Nutrients_and_Minerals\" title=\"Other Nutrients and Minerals\">Other Nutrients and Minerals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Are_All_Ants_Attracted_to_Water\" title=\"Are All Ants Attracted to Water?\">Are All Ants Attracted to Water?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#How_Do_Ants_Find_and_Collect_Water\" title=\"How Do Ants Find and Collect Water?\">How Do Ants Find and Collect Water?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#How_To_Prevent_Ants_From_Invading_Your_Water_Sources\" title=\"How To Prevent Ants From Invading Your Water Sources\">How To Prevent Ants From Invading Your Water Sources<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-water\/#Summary\" title=\"Summary\">Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Are_Ants_Attracted_To_Water\"><\/span>Why Are Ants Attracted To Water?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Water attracts ants because they need it to <strong>function and survive<\/strong>. Without it, they can become dehydrated and sometimes dry up completely. [<a href=\"https:\/\/sitn.hms.harvard.edu\/uncategorized\/2019\/biological-roles-of-water-why-is-water-necessary-for-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Water also allows ants to fulfill many physiological processes in their bodies. These processes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Digestion\"><\/span>Digestion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Water aids in digestion as a solvent. Due to its chemical composition, it helps break down essential compounds like glucose.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Respiration\"><\/span>Respiration<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While water isn&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Molting\"><\/span>Molting<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-molt\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2405\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ants undergo molting<\/a> several times in their life. Through molting, they develop from blind and legless larvae to adult ants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Water is key to molting. It serves as a mechanism to expand the exoskeleton before hardening. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6288263\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Reasons_Why_Water_May_Attract_Ants\"><\/span>Other Reasons Why Water May Attract Ants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-3-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-78\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-3-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-3-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-3-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants may seek out water for what&#8217;s in it. As a solvent, water can be part of many solutions. In some cases, it may <strong>contain other substances<\/strong> that ants need to survive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples of these substances include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sugar\"><\/span>Sugar<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Salt\"><\/span>Salt<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019t get enough salt from their food. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/3009-ants-prefer-salt-sugar.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Nutrients_and_Minerals\"><\/span>Other Nutrients and Minerals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some aqueous solutions may also contain <strong>nutrients and minerals<\/strong> 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-attracted-to-urine\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ants and urine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_All_Ants_Attracted_to_Water\"><\/span>Are All Ants Attracted to Water?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-are-moisture-ants-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"what are moisture ants\" class=\"wp-image-2640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-are-moisture-ants-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-are-moisture-ants-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-are-moisture-ants-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-are-moisture-ants.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <strong>moisture ant<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019ll often find them infesting damp or decaying wood.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you see moisture ants in or around your home, there\u2019s a high chance that you may have leaks or water damage. If you want to learn more, see this article about <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-are-moisture-ants\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2633\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moisture ants<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_Ants_Find_and_Collect_Water\"><\/span>How Do Ants Find and Collect Water?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While ants definitely need water, they don\u2019t need excessive amounts of it to survive. Most of the time, they get the water they need from the <strong>food that they consume<\/strong>. Fluids like sap, nectar, and honeydew all provide ants with enough moisture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hence, ants don&#8217;t usually forage for water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is only in <strong>times of scarcity<\/strong> that they will actively look around for water sources. In these times, don&#8217;t be surprised if you find ants in your home. They&#8217;ll be around leaks, drains, and anywhere with accumulated condensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Prevent_Ants_From_Invading_Your_Water_Sources\"><\/span>How To Prevent Ants From Invading Your Water Sources<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants can sometimes<strong> <\/strong>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\u2019s important to keep them in check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To prevent ants from invading your water sources and home, you need to <strong>remove attractants<\/strong>. Essentially you\u2019d need to <strong>prevent moisture buildup<\/strong> in your home.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few tips you can follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Repair and replace leaky pipes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check and fix your drainage system<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove or replace moist, decaying wood<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve ventilation around your house<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use a dehumidifier<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep your floors and counters clean and dry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seal cracks and other entry points<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary\"><\/span>Summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-2-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-74\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/are-ants-attracted-to-water-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;s best to prevent them by keeping your home clean and dry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yes, ants are attracted to water. Water is essential to ants as it is to other animals. As such, they\u2019re drawn to water and other sources of moisture. Read on if you\u2019d like to learn more about the following: Why Are Ants Attracted To Water? Water attracts ants because they need it to function and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3156,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3770,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71\/revisions\/3770"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}