Vancouver, Washington is a haven in the West, frequently touted as one of the most beautiful cities by residents, tourists and critics alike. In 2017, Sunset listed Vancouver’s Main Street as one of the “Best in the West” with the charming, historical buildings, brightly painted murals on the storm drains and that happy, hometown feeling that Vancouver is so good at delivering. The mood in Vancouver is cheerful and no matter the sunshine or the rain, it’s an upbeat town. But the second you come home to ants milling around, treating your kitchen like their own private banquet hall, the cheer evaporates. Nothing makes a person more grumpy than having to throw out food that is filled with pests. Even though ants do not carry or spread disease, they get into absolutely everything. Their primary goal is to keep the colony alive and if each ant brings home a big prize, that is food to keep the colony fed and food for the offspring. Crumbs, as well as anything sticky or sweet, are what ants love best and if these morsels are easily accessible, they will tell their friends.
How ants spread the word about dinner
It may shock you how quickly one or two ants can turn into 50 or 1,000 so quickly. Do they smell the crumbs? How is it that they gather so quickly, swarming around their find in such numbers? It is because of a specialized communication tool that ants use to alert the colony so they can have help dragging their newly found loot back to their home.
