What is the importance of smell to an ant?

Answer 1

Ants dont smell in the conventional sense of the word. Their antennae are chemical receptors that can detect changes in their surroundings from pheromones that other ants excrete. This is usually from their feet so that when they walk about they leave a trail others can follow on. If there is something interesting at the end of the trail it is used more often so the trail has more aroma so more ants follow it. this follows the runaway principle where one route is embraced and other less well used routes are forgotten about in time. However it the trail is lost ants will often start following others near them. This can often lead to circles of ants following each other getting smaller and smaller until they all starve to death.

Answer 2

Communication, reproduction and survival describe the importance of smell to an ant. Ants detect the smells of other species, the environment and their own species through antennae and emit their own smells through chemicals called pheromones for communicating dangers, directions and mating opportunities. They survive because the combination of antennae and pheromones leads them to and from colonies, food sources and mating places.

Answer 3

A bee smells through its antennae, which contain about 170 olfactory receptors. These receptors help bees locate pollen and even other bees while in flight.

Answer 4

Yes they have one of the best sense of smell in the animal kingdom.

Answer 5

An ant smells with its antennas.

Answer 6

their anttenae