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Dinu Mysore, India(Zone 10a) Feb 26, 2004

I read somewhere that ants communicate between themselves using some sort of chemical signals. But the way they find foodstuff has been baffling me since long. Just thought someone here may know the answer.

If some foodstuff is kept on a table, these little ants climb up its legs and reach for it. If anything is hung from the ceiling using a rope, they use this route to reach the spot. They can reach there even if it is hung over the table leaving a gap to the table. I am wondering how these ants decide which route to take to get at the food.

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kooger Oostburg, WI(Zone 5b) Feb 26, 2004

Not a clue!! This guy would probably know - he's an entomologist. drlewis@iastate.edu - he says "email me with your questions" so go for it!

Post #792218
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MaVieRose High Desert, CA(Zone 8a) Feb 26, 2004

Dinu... hope u find answer to ur question on this url http://www.antcolony.org/news/Invader%20Ants%20Hurting%20EcosystemsEconomies.htm

edited spelling error.

This message was edited Feb 26, 2004 8:04 AM

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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Feb 26, 2004

It's really amazing, isn't it? They find our hummingbird feeder nomatter where I suspend it, so I devised a "moat" of sorts using an inverted spraypaint can lid.

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Dinu Mysore, India(Zone 10a) Mar 04, 2004

Thank you kooger and MVR. I visited those sites and learnt some new things as well. But they don't explain an answer to my particular query. I have posted in the groups, the same question and am waiting for an answer. That don't seem to be visited by members as frequently as I guessed.

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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Mar 04, 2004

Dinu, does this help?
http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/bio/ento/cooper.htm

For more, see
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=mozclient&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=chemical+communication+ants



This message was edited Mar 4, 2004 7:10 PM

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RichSwanner Citrus Heights, CA(Zone 9b) Mar 05, 2004

Ortho home defense 1 gal w /sprayer is the best answer. Pull back and nuc them from space.That way the ant problem doesn't need answer it has one.

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