Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2018 August 27

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August 27

Why do ants avoid salt? How does salt affect ants?

--إلياس الجزائري^Elias 14:30, 27 August 2018 (UTC)

This article has some interesting info. MarnetteD|Talk 14:35, 27 August 2018 (UTC)

@MarnetteD:, I only have access to Wikipedia at the moment. Could you give me the gist of it? Or refer me to some related articles? --إلياس الجزائري^Elias 14:55, 27 August 2018 (UTC)

That article, titled Does Salt Kill Ants? What Really Happens When Salt Touches Ants? -- mentions various methods for controlling ants. The salt method references a 1937 study (relating to beetles and epsom salt), but suggests ant/salt control methods are mostly anecdotal and sketchy, adding: "Some theories claim that salt penetrates ant exoskeletons and wreaks havoc inside"; and concluding with: "Take this with a grain of salt." More recent studies suggest that ants might be more attracted to salt than sugar (especially in non-coastal areas where salt is scarce): [1], [2]. —2606:A000:1126:4CA:0:98F2:CFF6:1782 (talk) 17:33, 27 August 2018 (UTC)

Thank you 2606. I have been out running errands and only just saw the OPs request. I appreciate you taking the time to summarize the info at the link I provided and for adding the info about recent studies. MarnetteD|Talk 17:51, 27 August 2018 (UTC)